Byron Center- Mich. – The No. 15-ranked AQ men's hockey team took on No.14 UM-Dearborn Wolverines tonight (Oct. 14) over at Southside Arena. Danny Barry would earn himself the player of the game nomination after scoring both of AQ's goals in a 2-1 victory. Barry tied the game in the second period and then won the game in overtime with just 27 seconds remaining on the clock.

AQ now improves to 4-1 on the season with a 3-0 WHAC record.

The Wolverines broke the tie early as they scored on their first shot on target four minutes and 11 seconds into the game. Just a few seconds later, UMD came very close to scoring again after ringing a shot off the post. Offsetting penalties just a few seconds after that concluded a very action-packed minute of hockey.

Neither side managed to score during four-on-four hockey as both teams returned to full strength. With 11:57 remaining on the clock, Aquinas would get its first powerplay opportunity of the game. However, AQ would fail to score and UMD would return to full strength just two minutes later.

With 7:40 left on the clock, Gustov Ostman would get a one-on-one chance, but the Wolverine's net minder would come up with a big save. Barry would get put into the box for cross checking just 42 seconds later, giving UM-Dearborn its first powerplay of the game. The Wolverines came extremely close to scoring twice as they put another shot off the post with 5:40 remaining in the period. 27 seconds later, a huge save from Max Johnston would keep the score at 1-0 as AQ killed off the powerplay.

Both sides would create a couple more chances, but the score would remain 1-0 in favor of UMD after one period of play. It was a close battle between the two teams with UMD outshooting AQ 15-12 in the period.

The second period did not get off to a great start as UMD got another powerplay just 21 second into the period. However, the Saints would quicky kill off the powerplay and start a very clean period of hockey. Neither side had a penalty for the remainder of the period.

Aquinas had a great chance to score four minutes and 15 seconds into the period after the puck bounced around the Wolverine net. A UMD defender would actually make the save off the line to keep the score at one-to-one. Johnston remained solid in net and had another one-on-one save with 11:36 remaining on the clock to keep the deficit to just one goal.

AQ would finally break through with 8:03 on the clock. Mason Stewart snagged the puck out of the air and ripped it onto net. Barry would be there for the rebound and a top-shelf shot would tie the game at one.

Both sides continued to play great hockey, but the Saints almost had their first lead of the game as Ostman had another one-on-one chance with 1:34 left on the clock. However, the UMD net minder would come up big and the two sides would enter the locker rooms tied at one. Aquinas held the advantage in shots this period, outshooting Dearborn 16-11.

Aquinas nearly went ahead several times in the third period. UMD was awarded a five-minute powerplay due to a major penalty called on AQ with 11:58 left on the clock. That didn't stop the Saints offensive as AQ appeared to score with 10:27 on the clock. However, the refs huddle together and determined that Aquinas had a player in the crease and disallowed the goal.

The Saints would manage to kill off the UMD powerplay without allowing the Wolverines to generate any offense. Aquinas would get a powerplay chance of its own late in the third, but the powerplay would get cut short after a roughing call on Alex Johnson with just two minutes and 18 seconds left on the clock. AQ would kill off another penalty and the fans would get bonus hockey with the game still tied at one after regulation.

AQ once again outshot UMD in the third, holding a 16-10 advantage.

There were a couple of close calls in overtime, but both goalies held their ground. Barry would change that with just 27 seconds remaining on the clock. Barry put away the game after scoring a rebound off of Arthur Prukhitsky's shot to give Aquinas a huge 2-1 victory over #14 UM-Dearborn.

Johnston played fantastic in net, saving 38 of 39 shots on target for a .974 save percentage. In total Aquinas outshot UM-Dearborn 49-39.

The Saints are back at it tomorrow with a road matchup against UMD. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 PM at UMD Campus Arena in Dearborn, Michigan.