DEARBORN, Mich. – The No.20 University of Michigan-Dearborn (11-8-1, 10-4-1) men's ice hockey team welcomed Aquinas College (11-8-1, 10-4-1) to the UM-Dearborn Ice Arena on Friday (Jan. 13). The Wolverine offense sputtered only mustering one goal on the night despite outshooting the Saints 48-21.
The Saints took it to the Wolverines in the opening minutes of the contest as Gustov Ostman scored an unassisted goal after chasing down a loose puck in their offensive zone. Netminder Eric Polzin attempted to poke check the puck away from Ostman, but the puck deflected into the air, and Ostman batted it out of the air and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. The Wolverines had a man advantage six minutes into the period, but the special teams unit needed help to get everything going in what proved to be a common theme going just 1-6 on power plays. Despite giving up an early goal, Dearborn still outshot Aquinas 14-7 in the opening frame.
The Wolverine power play got a chance again just 90 seconds into the second period. However, the Saints killed off yet another opportunity for the Wolverines. Dearborn fell behind 2-0 just three and a half minutes later when Shane DiTullio and the Saints beat Polzin for a second time off a Gavin Phillips assist. After coincidental penalties made it 4-4, Brendan West found himself with open space in the slot and ripped a shot past the goalie's right shoulder but rang the post in what was the Wolverines' best scoring chance of the second period.
The third period saw the Wolverine attack wake up as Dearborn outshot Aquinas 22-2 in the final period. Dearborn played 3:49 seconds with an empty net as they tried to muster some chance while Aquinas killed off two of their three penalties in the period. Bailey Byrd finally got the Wolverines on the board with 4:49 to play as he blasted a shot from the right wing on a 6-4 after Josh Makarchuck delivered a swift pass from the blue line to set up the open chance. West provided a secondary assist on the goal.
Aquinas goaltender Max Johnston was superb in net, standing on his head for most of the night, stopping 47 of 48 shots he faced.
Up Next
The Wolverines look for redemption as they conclude the home-and-home series on Saturday (Jan.14) against Aquinas in Byron Center, Mich. The puck drops at 8 pm at Southside Ice Arena.
