DEARBORN, Mich. -- Survive and Advance is a familiar saying that gets tossed around collegiate locker rooms during postseason play. The mantra remains steadfast in the No. 3 University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey locker room after surviving their opening-round matchup against the No. 6 Cleary Cougars on Friday (Feb. 16). The Wolverines won 5-3 and advanced to the semifinals of tomorrow's (Feb. 17) WHAC Hockey Conference Tournament. 

The Cougars took the early lead after a loose puck found the stick of Cam Thomas, who found himself 1-on-1 with Tanner Beals. Thomas tucked it over Beals shoulder giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead. Down 1-0 heading into the second period, the Wolverines needed a quick response, and they got just that from the WHAC Player of the Year, Bailey Byrd. Byrd redirected a shot from Declan Flanagan, leaving the Cleary netminder helpless and with a tie game. Two and a half minutes later, the Cougars scored again, making it 2-1. 

However, the Wolverines would not be outdone as they took advantage of crucial Cougar miscues and scored two powerplay goals, one from Byrd and another from the stick of Quest Bigelow. With a 3-2 lead and all of the momentum, the Wolverines would add another critical goal after Josh Weber sniped home a wrist shot after Joey Cullinan won the faceoff back to him.

Down to their last efforts, Cleary emptied their net and opted for a 5-on-4 after the Wolverines took a penalty. Declan Flanagan found himself staring down an unoccupied puck and ripped it down the ice into an open net, putting away the Cougars for good.