DEARBORN, Mich.-- The No.16 University of Michigan-Dearborn (3-5-0) men's ice hockey team found themselves playing from behind for the majority of Thursday's (Oct. 20) contest against No.20 University of Arizona Wildcats (2-2-1). 

The Wildcats scored just 1:35 into the contest, beginning the Wolverines' uphill battle. Jake Emery tied the game up at one when he was on the receiving end of a Colin Garner and Max Hartwell assist to even the score with 11:53 remaining in the opening period. The Wildcat special teams helped them retake the lead, as UofA scored on the power play with 9:03 remaining and took a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission. 

Bailey Byrd evened the odds to begin the second period as Garner linked up with Byrd for his third goal of the season. However, the Wildcats scored two unanswered goals to finish the second period and take a 4-2 lead. The Wolverine top line looked to get the Maize & Blue back in the contest when Mikhail Khudenko scored his seventh goal in eight games to bring the Wolverines within one. However, Dearborn looked to create a man advantage by pulling their goalie as time ran down in the final period, and the Wildcats scored an empty netter to make it a 5-3 final. 

Up Next

The Wolverines conclude their series against the Wildcats Friday (Oct. 21) at 7 pm in the Fieldhouse.