Weekend Warriors Prevail: MD1 Sweeps Three Game Homestand
The Men’s ACHA D1 team had a three game homestand this weekend.\
The Bulldogs first played host to the Western Michigan Broncos on Thursday night. Justin Polischuk started the scoring on Thursday night, grabbing the first goal of the game at the 2:53 mark of the first period. Polischuk’s tally would be assisted by Sam Johnston and Michael Tratar. Brad Kobryn would add to the Bulldog lead at the 7:34 mark. Kobryn’s goal was assisted by Chris Derochie and Rainer Glimpel. Western Michigan would cut the lead down to one once again at the 10:54 mark. Polischuk’s second of the night would give the home team the two goal advantage once again at the 13:48 mark of the first off of assists from Tratar and Johnston once again. Marcus Rose would tally a goal of his own before the period would end to give the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead. Kobryn and Derochie would assist on Rose’s goal. After twenty minutes, the Bulldogs would lead 4-1.
Glimpel would tally his own goal, the only goal of the period, at the 19:45 mark of the second period, assisted by Tyler Lepore and Nick Goettel. Derochie would snag one of his own in the third off of an assist from JP Grineau. The Bulldogs would take this one from the Broncos by a score of 6-1.
Saturday night, the Bulldogs faced off against the Midland University Warriors in front of not only a packed house at Arrington Ice Arena, but live on ESPN 3. No goals would be scored in the contest until the second period when Midland would strike first at the 12:19 mark. Marcus Rose would tie the game only 29 seconds into the third period to make it an even 1-1. Midland would strike once again at the 4:18 mark of the third. Midland would grab two more in the next 13 minutes to go up by two goals. Dominic Moore would get the Bulldogs within one at the 17:49 mark of the final period of play. Moore’s goal would be unassisted. Rainer Glimpel would tie the contest at 3 a piece with less than a minute and a half to play in the contest. Glimpel’s goal would be assisted by JP Grineau.
Chris Derochie would be the hero in overtime, tallying the game winner at the 2:56 mark of the extra period off of assists from Nick Goettel and Rainer Glimpel to grab the W for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs played host to the Warriors again on Sunday afternoon for their final game of the weekend. The first period would once again be scoreless but the Bulldogs would outshoot the Warriors 15-7.
Justin Fisher would break the deadlock at the 47 second mark of the second frame on an unassisted. Sam Johnston would snag one a minute later assisted by Justin Polischuk and Michael Tratar. The Warriors would grab a powerplay goal to cut the lead to 3-1 but Marcus Rose would extend the lead to 3-1 at the 17:01 mark of the second. The second period would end with the Bulldogs leading 3-1 and outshooting the Warriors 21-17.
Ted Anstett would score the fifth and final goal of the game 5:15 into the third period on a breakaway. Josh Hosking and Fisher would grab assists on Anstett’s goal. The final horn would sound and the Bulldogs would win 4-1 and outshoot the Warriors 33-19.
The Bulldogs improve to 27-1 overall and 17-0 at home while riding a 19 game win streak. Freshman goaltender Mike Barrett would grab all three wins over the weekend, improving to 17-0 on the season with an impressive 1.29 GAA and .952 SV%. The Bulldogs play their final two regular season games at home next weekend against Illinois State University on Saturday, February 18th at 7 pm and Sunday, February 19th at 2 pm. Sunday afternoon will be senior day when the Bulldogs honor the Class of 2017 prior to the 2 pm game.