Spartans sweep American International with Sunday afternoon win
By Alyssa Girardi –
EAST LANSING — Despite a rocky 0-3 start to the season, the Spartans have turned things around.
Michigan State is currently riding a three-game winning streak after defeating American International, 4-0, Sunday afternoon.
“We saw some good things tonight from our five-on-five play, we created some very good scoring chances,” head coach Tom Anastos said. “I liked how we backchecked. I also liked that we pitched a zero killing penalties tonight and we scored a power play goal. There were things, certainly, that showed growth — and that’s a good thing.”
Freshman forward Mackenzie MacEachern (Troy) scored two for the Spartans, and longtime teammate Thomas Ebbing (Troy) assisted on both goals.
MacEachern put MSU (3-3) on the board first with a tally 1:46 into the middle frame. He and Ebbing broke through AIC’s defense and only goaltender Hunter Lesiner stood between them and the back of the net.
MacEachern passed to Ebbing, who banged a shot off the pipes. The rebound deflected onto the stick of MacEachern, and he got it past an out-of-position Lesiner.
“Jake Chelios gave me a pass and I picked my head up and saw I was on a 2-on-0, and I noticed it was Thomas,” MacEachern said. “I wanted to give him the opportunity to score his first college goal and unfortunately it hit the post. I was lucky enough just to put it home.”
Ebbing emphasized the strong communication the two have together on the ice — something he said comes from years of playing together and being friends for 19 years.
“Obviously, we’ve known each other forever,” Ebbing said. “Communication with us is key. He’s one of my best friends, so obviously it’s nice to play with him. It’s something that doesn’t just come in a week; I think the coaches have been able to see that.”
At 12:10 of the first period on an MSU power play, forward Lee Reimer picked up his own rebound and found forward captain Greg Wolfe (Canton) in the left circle. A one-timer by Wolfe doubled the Spartans score.
At 4:17 of the third period, MacEachern netted his second of the game and his third of the season. Forward Brent Darnell shot a puck from the right boards, and MacEachern fought in the crease until he managed to get a stick on the loose puck and poke it past Lesiner. Ebbing picked up the secondary assist.
MSU’s fourth goal came at the hands of another freshman, Chelsea native Joe Cox. Forward Dean Chelios (Bloomfield Hills) fed him a pass to the left of AIC’s net, and Cox one-timed the goal.
MSU goaltender Will Yanakeff (Jerome) picked up his first win of the season with the 4-0 victory. He stopped 26 shots in the shutout.
“I thought he looked very confident and very steady in the net today,” Anastos said. “I think that should be good for his confidence and certainly good for our confidence.”
Forward Tanner Sorenson rejoined MSU on the ice after a five-game suspension following a violation of team rules. He centered a line between freshmen JT Stenglein and Villiam Haag, and had one shot in the game.
The Spartans will face Michigan Tech in a two-game road series Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.) at MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton.