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 Freshman Jon Grabarek scored WSU's lone goal against Air Force. |
March 3, 2006
DETROIT - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (6-21-6 overall, 3-11-5 CHA) allowed three second period goals in a 3-1 setback to visiting Air Force (10-19-1 overall, 7-12-0 CHA) Friday night in a College Hockey America contest.
The visitors held a 14-4 advantage in shots on goal during the opening period despite the fact WSU had the first quality scoring chance. Warrior freshman Jon Grabarek (Sterling Hts., Mich./Cedar Rapids RoughRiders) found himself alone in front of Falcon netminder Peter Foster with the puck but Foster made a key save 6:30 into the contest to keep the game scoreless.
Air Force had two chances about 30 seconds apart later in the frame. After AF won an offensive zone face-off Frank Schiavone's blueline shot hit the post with 6:40 to go in the period. Mike Phillipich was alone in front of WSU netminder Will Hooper (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders) 30 seconds later but Hooper made the save on a point blank shot.
The Falcons broke the scoreless draw just 60 seconds into the middle stanza. After Foster turned aside a shot from WSU's Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb.), Air Force caught the Warriors in a bad line change and Eric Ehn finished off the scoring play with an assist to Andrew Ramsey.
Sixty-seven seconds later Wayne State's Taylor Donohoe (Richmond, B.C./Powell River Kings) was whistled for a hooking penalty. During the ensuing Air Force power play, WSU's Tylor Michel (Sudbury, Ont./Owen Sound Greys) stole the puck and was tripped up by Ehn on the breakaway. Foster made an arm save as Michel attempted the second penalty shot in school history.
Wayne State's Chris Vail was stopped by Bowling Green goalie Jordan Sigalet on Nov. 17, 2001, at the Great Lakes Sports City Arena in Fraser.
Nearly six minutes later with WSU serving a too many men on the ice penalty, Air Force's Brooks Turnquist was credited with a man-advantage marker as his blueline shot hit Donohoe and deflected past Hooper. Billy Devoney and Brian Reese assisted on the eventual game-winner.
The Falcons completed their scoring at the 10:18 mark on a goal by Reese. Turnquist gathered in the rebound, after Theo Zacour's centering pass was deflected by Hooper, and Reese redirected Turnquist's shot.
Air Force held a 17-7 advantage in shots on goal during the middle frame.
Wayne State ended Foster's bid for a shutout with 3:01 left in the contest as Grabarek received a pass from Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) just to Foster's left and buried the power play shot. Higgins earned the second assist as WSU ended an 0-for-21 streak on the power play.
Hooper made 33 saves in the contest, with Foster making 17 stops. WSU has scored 30 goals in Hooper's 15 starts this season.
The Warriors went one-for-four on the power play, with Air Force scoring once in six man-advantage opportunities.
The teams conclude the regular season with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Saturday at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum. Wayne State will be the No. 6 seed for the CHA tournament and will play at 7:35 p.m. against the No. 3 on Friday, March 10 at the Fairgrounds. Air Force, the No. 5 seed, will skate against Robert Morris, the No. 4 seed, at 3:35 p.m. on March 10th.
