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 Will Hooper made 20 saves at Western Michigan on Saturday. |
Nov. 4, 2006
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Wayne State men's hockey team (1-6-0, 1-1-0 CHA) suffered a 4-0 setback in its first-ever trip to Western Michigan (3-4-0, 2-4-0 CCHA) on Saturday night at Lawson Arena.
The loss marked the first time in school history that Wayne State was held scoreless in back-to-back games.
Western Michigan struck first with a power-play goal at the 9:05 mark in the opening period. Mark Letestu found Jeff Pierce open right in front of Will Hooper (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders), and Pierce spun around and beat the Warrior netminder with a low wrist shot for his first goal of the season. Paul Szczechura assisted on the play as well.
The Broncos went ahead by a pair at 17:11 when Szczechura sent the puck across the Wayne State goal crease to Brian Bicek, who put in a one-timer on Hooper's stick side for his third goal of the season and another WMU power-play tally. Pierce got the second helper on the goal, as the home team went into the first intermission ahead, 2-0.
The Warriors were much more aggressive offensively in the second period, outshooting the Broncos, 15-5, but a Wayne State turnover at its own blue line created an opportunity for Kevin Labatte to skate in and put Western Michigan up, 3-0, with his first of the year at 12:57.
Bicek's second goal of the game at 8:09 in the third period made it 4-0, and the Broncos were able to kill off a five-minute Warrior power-play on their way to victory.
Wayne State edged Western Michigan in shots on goal, 26-24, but went scoreless on six power-play opportunities.
WMU freshman goaltender Riley Gill made 26 saves in his second collegiate start, while Hooper saved 20 Bronco shots.
Wayne State continues on its four-game road trip as the Warriors travel to Brown next weekend, Nov. 10-11.
