Byron Center, Mich. — The Aquinas College men's hockey team took to their home ice at Southside Ice Arena on Friday (Oct. 25) to take on the Wolverines of UM-Dearborn for game one of their two-game series. Both teams found several runs throughout the evening, but both defenses held the shots and goals to a small order. After the third period the teams were stuck at 2-2, overtime brought no victor so the contest headed to a shootout. Here the Saints went on to score on their first attempt and deny all of UMD's. Bringing the Saints the home-ice victory.

Aquinas 3, UM-Dearborn 2

The contest commenced at the drop of the puck and proceeded to be a heavy back-and-forth. This stalemated dance continued until the Wolverines found the line to cut in at, as they snuck a goal in off an AQ mistake with just 57 seconds remaining in the first. The Saints attempted to find a quick rebuttal in the remainder, but didn't.

The second period played a similar number but had a different step as the play of both teams slightly elevated. This time, Aquinas led the progression as they sunk two goals in the period. Gavin Rozema was the Saint at the front of the effort as the first goal came with assists from Arseniy Malyutin, and Alex Johnson. The second had touches from Christian Look, and Nick Dashner. Aquinas was with the advantage front, 2-1.

AQ held on to their lead going into the third, but it was quickly thwarted as UMD only needed 49 seconds of action to even the score. The remainder of the period saw several efforts on both sides, but no result. The game headed to overtime, the where stalemate continued. 

Thus, the result had to come from a shootout.

UMD skated first, but were halted by keeper Randon Stripling.

Austin Gilmore was the first skater for AQ. As he approached, he looked to break the stalemate, and he did just that. Gilmore had one too many tricks up his sleeve for the keeper, and lifted the Saints to an advantage with the opening shootout goal. And this was the only one goal that the Saints needed, as Striplin blocked every following attempt that the Wolverines threw at him.

This last stitch efforts from Gilmore and Striplin secured the AQ win on home ice.

By the Numbers

• G. Rozema collected both regulation time goals for the Saints
• This was Gilmore's first contest back from injury, and he came up with the game winner shootout goal
• Keeper Striplin went 28 for 30 in regulation, giving him a .933 save rate on the evening

Up Next

The team will return to play on Saturday (Oct. 26) at 7:00 p.m. with UM-Dearborn for game two at the UM-Dearborn Ice Arena.