HOCKEY PREPARES FOR FIRST MATCHUP WITH MICHIGAN-DEARBORN

FRASER, MI – The Warriors (0-8-0, 0-6-0) will host the first half of the home-and-home with the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines (7-0-0, 5-0-0) on Friday at 9 p.m. and play visitor on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Warriors look for their first win, hoping to hand the Wolverines their first loss.

It will not be easy. Michigan-Dearborn has been a WHAC Ice Hockey powerhouse, while Rochester looks to take the next step in the beginning stages of its program.

The Wolverines will look to punish teams offensively and have a slew of players who can do so. With three of their forwards sitting on top of the entire conference in total points on the season, the Wolverines are anything but a one-trick pony. Junior Tanner Beals is not so easy to sneak one by in the net either, with the second-best save percentage in the conference at .930.

The Warriors have a tall task this weekend but will look to build on an improved performance last time out.

LAST WEEK VS. CONCORDIA

FRIDAY

The Warriors' defense let too many shots through as the Cardinals put 85 shots on the net. Freshman Blake Mitchell tabbed 54 saves before giving up his seventh goal when he was replaced by goalmate Cody Pachota early in the third period. Pachota worked for 23 saves, allowing just one the rest of the way. The Cardinals still totaled 8 on the night.

Forwards Kyle Banks and Bobby Kulka each grabbed a goal for the Warriors. However, the Cardinals would have seven before Kulka put in the second goal for the Warriors, assisted by freshman Jordan Winrod. The Cardinals would win handily, 8-2.

SATURDAY

The Warriors played host on Saturday night at Big Boy Arena and it was the Warriors who got on the scoreboard first. Senior Tirned Kabambamwamba capitalized on the power play as the puck found its way through to give the Warriors their first lead in three weeks. Banks was given the assist.

However, the Warriors could not add to their total the rest of the way. The Cardinals remained scoreless after the first period, but the Cardinals scored thrice in the third, including a powerplay goal. The Cardinals would get one more in the first minute of the third, and the score was 4-1 all the way to the finish.

Mitchell would post another impressive number with 58 saves, but again it was not enough. It was a bit of a scrappy game, too, which saw 19 penalties between the two squads.

James Fisher - RU Athletics

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics