Michigan Tech Tops Northern Michigan In OT, 4-3

The Northern Michigan University hockey team battled hard against U.P. foe Michigan Technological University, Friday night, ultimately falling 4-3 in overtime to the Huskies. Trailing 3-1 heading into the third period, the Wildcats stormed back with a two-goal period to force extra hockey but the Huskies took advantage of the three-on-three overtime period as the Wildcats move to 1-1-0 on the season.

 

The Huskies struck early, taking the 1-0 lead at 3:50 of the opening period but the two sides skated to a fairly even first period, with Nolan Kent stopping 11 of the 12 shots faced in the first frame. 

 

NMU came out firing in the second period, tying the game up at one, courtesy of redshirt-junior David Keefer, netting his first of the season at 5:49 of the middle frame but it didn't take long for the Huskies to take back the lead, finding the back of the net just 16 seconds later. 

 

After the Huskies scored once more before the end of the period, the Wildcats faced a two-goal deficit heading into the final period of regulation.

 

Shortly after the expiration of a Wildcat powerplay opportunity, Vincent de Mey drew a slashing call and was awarded a penalty shot. With just 23 seconds gone in the third period, de Mey capitalized on the call, finding the back of the net for the first time in 2020-21.

 

The two teams skated evenly the remainder of the period, with shots sitting at 34 a side. With less than two minutes left in regulation, and the Wildcats trailing 3-2, the team opted for the extra attacker. Sophomore forward, who tallied two goals in the first outing of the season, took advantage of the chance and found the back of the net with 8.1 seconds in the third. 

 

The Wildcats had a few chances in the overtime period but the Huskies were the ones to break the goal line, gathering the rebound and sneaking it past Kent for the 4-3 final.

 

David Keefer scored his first in a Wildcat sweater, dropping back to the bottom of the far circle and sending it over the shoulder of MTU's Pietila to knot the game at one apiece. Andre Ghantous picked up an assist on the play, his second of the season.

 

With 23 seconds elapsed in the third period, Vincent de Mey got dragged down as he stormed the net, a whistle blew and de Mey was awarded the penalty shot.

 

With the extra attacker on, AJ Vanderbeck fired a shot home for his third goal in two games, forcing the overtime period with 8.1 seconds left on the clock. Griffin Loughran picked up an assist on the goal.

 

Defenseman Hank Sorensen led the team in shots on goal in the first period, firing four on net but was unable to break Huskies' netminder Pietila in the first 20 minutes of play. He posted one more shot on net through the remainder of the contest, leading the 'Cats with five total. 

 

The underclassmen showed offensive promise, with 24 of their 34 total shots coming from the freshmen and sophomore classes.

 

Vincent de Mey's goal was the Wildcats' first penalty shot goal since Dominik Shine against Alabama Huntsville on Dec. 4, 2015.

 

Five Wildcats highlighted the box score Friday night, including two who tallied their first points of the season. David Keefer scored first for the Wildcats, picking up his first goal and point in a Wildcat sweater while Griffin Loughran posted a helper on AJ Vanderbeck's goal in his season debut. 

 

Ben Newhouse led the team in blocked shots, keeping three shots from reaching the crease, while Joseph Nardi, Mack Byers and Tanner Vescio each had two blocks a piece. In total, the Wildcats posted 13 blocked shots in the contest.

 

Nolan Kent stopped 30 of 34 shots on goal for a .882 save percentage in the contest.

 

The two teams conclude the non-conference series tomorrow night in Marquette with puck drop set for 6:07 p.m.