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 Nate Higgins scored a power-play goal against NMU. |
Dec. 30, 2005
Madison, Wis. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (3-10-1) opened the 2005 Badger Showdown in Madison, Wis., with a 6-2 setback versus Northern Michigan (10-8-1).
The Warriors trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes as Nick Sirota scored at the 8:48 mark of the opening stanza. WSU killed four consecutive power plays in the first period including a 5-3 for 1:41.
A late first period penalty on WSU gave the Wildcats a man-advantage opportunity that NMU capitalized on 48 seconds early into the second period mark for a 2-0 lead. Twenty-five seconds later, Matt Siddall's goal gave Northern a 3-0 advantage.
Wayne State would not quit and an apparent goal by Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) six minutes into the second period was waived off since the referee's whistle had blown when he lost sight of the puck.
With NMU's Spencer Dillon in the penalty box for hooking midway through the middle stanza, WSU junior left wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) scored a power-play goal at the 12:08 mark. Bloomingburg extended his goal-scoring streak to four games as he deflected Steve Kovalchik's (Riverview, Mich./Omaha Lancers) blueline shot past Wildcat goalie Derek Janzen. Kovalchik extended his assist streak to four games, while Adam Krug (Livonia, Mich./Sioux City Musketeers) also earned an assist on the goal.
Northern Michigan increased its lead to 4-1 as Mike Santorelli scored an even-strength marker with just 2:02 left in the second period.
Despite being outshot 30-16 in the first two periods, WSU trailed just 4-1 as junior netminder Will Hooper (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders) made numerous point-blank saves.
Wayne State went on the power play early in the third period, but NMU's Pat Bateman scored a short-handed marker for a 5-1 Wildcat advantage.
WSU responded 22 seconds later as junior Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) one-timed a cross-ice pass from Dan Iliakis (Scarborough, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) behind Janzen making the score 5-2.
NMU's Darin Olver scored with just over five minutes left to complete the scoring.
Hooper finished the contest with 37 saves, while Janzen turned aside 22 Warrior shots. WSU went two-for-six on the power play, with NMU scoring once in six man-advantage opportunities.
Wayne State will play the loser of tonight's second game between Western Michigan and tournament host Wisconsin on Saturday. The Badgers will be skating in Saturday's second game no matter the outcome of tonight's contest against the Broncos.
