MEN'S HOCKEY SWEPT IN HIGH SCORING AFFAIRS AGAINST CLEARY

Warrior Hockey (0-12) wasn't able to secure the first win of the 2023-24 season, being defeated by Cleary (6-10) 9-5 and 12-5 in the first two games between the teams over the weekend. Rochester found itself within striking distance after the first period of both games. However, penalties and power plays would doom the Warriors, leaving them shorthanded for most of both games. 

WARRIORS AT CLEARY - FRIDAY, NOV. 10 - FINAL: 5-9

HOWELL, Mich. - Rochester got things started with senior captain Kyle Banks leading the way offensively. Banks would find freshman JT Hosack for a goal five minutes into the contest, before following that up with a great goal of his own just over a minute later, when forward Tirned Kabamba Mwamba would find an opening for Banks to find the back of the net. Despite the early 2-0 lead, momentum shifted in the Cougars' favor when a power play set up a Cougar goal at the 12-minute mark. 

The second period started out neck-and-neck, with Banks making another great offensive play early into the period, scoring a goal off a great setup from Hosack and defender Kyle Hauer in transition. Cleary answered two minutes later with a goal of its own, but Rochester maintained composure with Banks finding forward Maxx Savel for a goal to tie things up on a power play. The Cougars regained momentum later into the second period, scoring two goals in the final three minutes to take a one-goal lead into the third. 

Rochester made another timely play on offense, with Hauer finding Savel for a game-tying goal to the uproar of the Warrior bench. However, things wouldn't be as positive for Rochester in the period, with Cleary scoring a staggering four goals to all but put the game away.

WARRIORS VS. CLEARY - SATURDAY, NOV. 11 - FINAL: 5-12

FRASER, Mich. - Things weren't as close in the second game, with Cleary immediately getting a power play to open up the scoring two minutes in. Cleary took a 2-0 lead before Savel would score behind great execution from Banks and Mwamba. However, the second period would be a brutal one for Rochester, with the majority of the period being played with just three Warriors on the ice. Cleary scored five goals in the period - four of which were on power plays - to take a commanding 7-1 lead into the third. 

The Warriors didn't go down without a fight, with Mwamba engineering some great offense for the Warriors. Newcomer Jordan Winrod got the first goal of the period behind a setup from Mwamba and Banks just a minute in. After another Cougar goal, Mwamba assisted again, this time finding Hauer. Cleary scored three consecutive goals following that effort, but Mwamba would stop the bleeding with a power play goal, before assisting yet again for Hauer. 

UP NEXT

Rochester will play its first series with conference leader #9 Indiana Tech (11-2), beginning with a home contest on Friday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Hanna Swanson - RU Athletics