WEEK 4: College hockey weekend recap

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For the first time this season, all seven Michigan colleges were in action over the weekend from Thursday to Saturday, including two Michigan-exclusive series.

Here’s how each of the schools fared in their contests this past weekend.

Thursday, Oct. 22

Troy native Mackenzie MacEachern potted a goal and an assist for Michigan State, but the Spartans’ two goals weren’t enough to top Lake Superior State, as they fell in the first of a two-game series in East Lansing, 4-2. J.T. Henke tallied a goal and an assist, himself, for LSSU, while Bryce Schmitt added a shorthanded goal, C.J. Hayes scored the game-winner and Gage Torrel recorded an empty-netter to seal the victory for his team. Gordon Defiel turned aside 29 shots in the win, while Jake Hildebrand made 19 of 23 saves.

MORE: PHOTOS: LSSU tops MSU Thursday night in East Lansing

Friday, Oct. 23

In the second series of clashing Michigan schools, Northern Michigan topped No. 16 Michigan Tech at home, a 4-1 final. The Wildcats put on a strong showing, peppering Huskies’ netminder Jamie Phillips with 46 shots while only allowing 21 on Atte Tolvanen. Though Michigan Tech struck just 2:28 into the game, NMU went on to score four straight, as Casey Purpur, John Siemer, Darren Nowick and Denver Pierce (Sault Ste. Marie) found the twine. Siemer and Nowick each added helpers, too.

Tied 2-2 heading into the third period of their game against Clarkson, Western Michigan could not muster the necessary offense. Clarkson, who outshot Western Michigan 30-16, scored its game-winning powerplay goal with 2:39 left in the final period before adding an empty-netter to defeat the Broncos, 4-2. Nolan LaPorte and Aidan Muir registered the WMU markers.

Ferris State and Wisconsin battled to a 5-5 tie that saw a thrilling finish in Big Rapids. Down 4-2 heading into the third period, the Bulldogs scored three straight, as Chad McDonald (Battle Creek) made it 5-4 with just under two minutes remaining in the game. With 20 seconds left and the extra attacker out, Tim Davison evened things up for the Badgers. Gerald Mayhew (Wyandotte), Corey Mackin and Kyle Schempp (Saginaw) each recorded two points for FSU.

Michigan State avenged its Friday-night loss to Lake Superior State, as JT Stenglein and Thomas Ebbing (Troy) each tallied a goal and an assist to lead MSU to a 2-0 victory. Jake Hildebrand stopped all 21 shots he faced for the shutout, while Nick Kossoff turned away 28 of 30 for LSSU.

MORE: PHOTOS: Spartans beat Lakers 2-0 in Friday night rematch

No. 11 Michigan and No. 18 Union squared off in New York, as the Wolverines took to the road this past weekend. Michigan battled back from a 3-1 deficit heading into the third period, scoring three straight to take a 4-3 lead halfway through the frame. But after Union responded with two goals four minutes apart, the Wolverines were forced to pull goaltender Steve Racine late. With 30 seconds left, Justin Selman scored the equalizer, his second of the game, to knot the game at five aside. Captain JT Compher potted three assists, Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe) tallied two helpers and Kyle Connor (Shelby Township) added one. Tyler Motte (St. Clair), Alex Kile (Troy) and Cooper Marody (Brighton) potted the other Wolverines goals.

Saturday, Oct. 24

No. 16 Michigan Tech bounced back after its 4-1 loss to Northern Michigan with a 3-1 victory Saturday night. In a virtual opposite of the first game, it was Michigan Tech who outshot the Wildcats this time, 46-20. Siemer scored late in the opening period for NMU, but three straight second-period MTU goals by Tyler Heinonen, Joel L’Esperance and Mason Blacklock were enough to put the Huskies over. Tolvanen stopped 43 of 46 for NMU, while Phillips turned aside 19 of 20.

In their Saturday-night rematch with Clarkson, Western Michigan’s fortune was not any better in round two. Junior captain Sheldon Dries (Macomb) and Kyle Novak scored for the Broncos, and Lukas Hafner allowed six goals on 29 shots in a 6-2 loss. After WMU opened the scoring on the powerplay at 2:16 of the first period, Clarkson went on to score six unanswered, which was ultimately too much for the Broncos to handle.

Despite tying the Badgers on Friday night, Ferris State edged Wisconsin this time around, 2-1. Freshman defenseman Ryker Killins scored a powerplay marker from Mayhew and Schempp six minutes into the second period to give FSU the 1-0 lead. Just 29 seconds into the third period, Wisconsin’s Luke Kunin tallied a powerplay marker to knot things at one. However, 19 seconds later, McDonald responded to take back the lead and the game’s momentum, as that was all Ferris State needed to top the Badgers. FSU’s Darren Smith stopped 29 of 30 in the victory.

The Wolverines visited RPI Saturday night in the second of two road games on the weekend, this time securing a win. Freshman forward Brendan Warren (Carleton) scored 2:40 into the contest to set the pace for Michigan. Motte ensured the Wolverines came out to a strong second-period start, as well, scoring 28 seconds into that frame. RPI kept it close at 3-2 until the 17:04 mark of the final period when Warren added his second of the came from Tony Calderone (Trenton), who also potted the game-winner late in the second period. Motte went on to add an empty-netter from Selman and Connor. Zach Nagelvoort stopped 19 of 21 shots he faced.