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 Freshman Derek Punches scored WSU's lone goal at Michigan State. |
Jan. 6, 2006
East Lansing, Mich. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (4-11-2) suffered a 3-1 setback at Michigan State's (9-8-5) Munn Ice Arena Friday night.
The Warriors battled the host Spartans even during five-on-five but MSU scored two power-play goals en route to the victory.
The first 10 minutes of the contest were scoreless thanks to the stellar play of WSU senior goaltender Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows).
Fifty seconds after Warrior blueliner Matt Krug was assessed an obstruction tripping penalty, Corey Potter's blueline shot hit Kelly's stick and deflected into the top corner of the net. Potter's third goal of the season was assisted by Tyler Howells and Justin Abdelkader.
Wayne State would trail for less than three minutes as freshman forward Derek Punches (Manchester, Mich./Texas Tornado) came down the off wing and wristed a shot past Spartan netminder Jeff Lerg at the 14:48 mark. Punches' second goal of the season was assisted by sophomore center Adam Krug (Livonia, Mich./Sioux City Musketeers) and senior defenseman Greg Poupard (Jackson, Mich./Waterloo Black Hawks).
Five of MSU's 11 shots during the opening period came on its two power-play chances.
Wayne State's Mark Cannon received an interference penalty at the 20-minute mark of the opening stanza. Starting the middle period with a power play and a fresh sheet of ice, it took the Spartans just 16 seconds to regain the lead as Nick Sucharski's first collegiate goal was a laser from between the circles.
Kelly shut the door for the next 28-and-a-half minutes, but the Warrior offense could mount few shots on goal. The host Spartans held a 33-7 advantage in shots on goal through 40 minutes.
Wayne State stepped up its play in the third period and had a few scoring chances but Derek Bachynski's shot went just wide of the net, Jason Bloomingburg's attempt to extend his goal-scoring streak to a school-record tying six games hit the crossbar.
Just before the mid-point of the third period, MSU's Jared Nightingale scored his first of the season as his blueline shot got past Kelly.
Michigan State held a 41-19 advantage in shots on goal during the contest with Kelly being credited with 38 saves. Lerg stopped 18 of WSU's 19 shots.
Wayne State went zero-for-three on the power play with all three chances coming in the third period. MSU finished two-for-eight with the man-advantage.
The squads conclude the weekend set with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Saturday at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.
