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 Jon Grabarek had WSU's go-ahead goal in the third period. |
Jan. 27, 2006
DETROIT - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (5-13-5 overall, 2-5-4 CHA) played its third consecutive Friday night overtime draw contest skating to a 2-2 tie with the University of Alabama-Huntsville (11-8-2, 7-3-1 CHA) at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum.
The Warriors grabbed a 1-0 lead 7:45 into the match as freshman Derek Punches (Manchester, Mich./Texas Tornado) beat Charger netminder Scott Munroe with a backhand low to the glove side. The scoring play started as WSU rookie blueliner Matt Krug (Livonia, Mich./Texas Tornado) made an outlet pass from his defensive zone to junior forward Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) in the neutral zone. After Higgins carried the puck into the offensive zone, he fed sophomore center Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) at the hashmarks along the boards. Paskaris sent a pass behind the net to Higgins, who's centering pass found Punches cutting across the top of the crease.
It was Punches third goal in the last seven games, while Higgins earned his first assist since Dec. 10. Higgins also moved into a tie-for-ninth place on both WSU's all-time scoring list (59 points) and assist list (30 assists). Paskaris extended his point streak to three games with the helper.
WSU outshot the guests 9-4 in the middle stanza but both goaltenders were up to the challenge.
Will Hooper's (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders) shutout bid ended 3:14 into the third period as UAH's Josh Murray scored after a give-and-go with Tyler Hilbert.
Wayne State regained the lead just 2:23 later as another freshman, Jon Grabarek (Sterling Hts., Mich./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) wristed a shot from the top of the circle past a screened Munroe. Junior blueliner Dan Iliakis (Scarborough, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) earned the lone assist as he dug the puck out from behind his net and skated all the way to the neutral zone where he fed Grabarek. The WSU rookie cut across from his off wing as three Chargers backed in. Grabarek has two goals in the last four games, while Iliakis ended a six-game pointless streak.
Huntsville rallied again as Matt Sweazey scored seven seconds into a UAH power play after taking a cross-crease pass from Steve Canter. Sweazey's game-tying goal, at the 13:42 mark of the third period, gives WSU a 1-1-5 mark in overtime contests this year. The game also marked the fifth overtime game in the series between the two squads with WSU now holding a 2-0-3 advantage.
Both netminders continued to shine for the final six-plus minutes of regulation. In overtime, UAH had all five shots on goal.
Hooper finished with 33 saves to earn first star of the game honors, while Munroe turned aside 28 Warrior shots to earn second star accolades.
Wayne State went zero-for-seven on the power play, with the Chargers scoring once in nine man-advantage opportunities.
The teams conclude the weekend series with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Saturday at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum.
