Nov. 25, 2006

Stats

ITHACA, N.Y. - The Wayne State men's hockey team (3-9-0) scored a season-high four power-play goals on its way to a 5-4 victory at 12th-ranked Cornell (6-3-0) on Saturday night, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Senior Jason Baclig (Leamington, Ont./Leamington Flyers) put the Warriors on the board first at the 8:04 mark with his third goal of the season, assisted by Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado) and Jeff Caister (Mississauga, Ont./Milton Icehawks).

Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) and Derek Bachynski (Belle River, Ont./Leamington Flyers) each scored a power-play goal 44 seconds apart midway through the opening period, giving Wayne State a 3-0 lead and forcing Cornell to pull goaltender Troy Davenport in favor of freshman Ben Scrivens, making his collegiate debut.

Cornell's Colin Greening narrowed the Big Red's deficit to two with just under three minutes to go, as the Big Red outshot the Warriors, 8-7, through the first 20 minutes but trailed, 3-1.

Big Red freshman Justin Milo netted his first collegiate goal at 1:33 in the second period to pull Cornell within one, but the Warriors scored their third power-play goal of the evening, this coming off the stick of senior Dan Iliakis (Scarborough, Ont./Georgetown Raiders), from Baclig, at 4:11 to regain a two-goal lead.

A power-play tally from Greening, his second goal of the game, made the score 4-3 with under 16 minutes remaining in the third period, but Nebus responded on a power-play with his second goal of the season to put the Warriors ahead, 5-3, with under 10 minutes to go.

Cornell would not go away quietly, as Bryon Bitz' power-play goal at 15:05 made it 5-4. The Big Red played the final two minutes with an empty net, and the Warriors killed off a pair of penalties but were able to hold on for the victory.

Freshman goaltender Brett Bothwell (Red Deer, Alb./Yorkton Terriers) made 27 saves in the win.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon (Nov. 26) at 4:00 p.m.