Hockey drops final contest of 2025 to Western Michigan

(Mt. Clemons, MI) - The Rochester Christian men's hockey team returned to play on Friday evening with a matchup against Western Michigan. The two teams had met earlier in the season, with WMU earning a victory in a shootout. A first-period goal gave WMU its first goal of the game and ended up being the difference as the Stallions won 3-2. 

Western Michigan was able to get in the scoring column in the first period, netting a goal with five and a half minutes remaining in the period. Nicholas Spognardi made eight saves in the period, with the Warriors staving off a pair of WMU power play opportunities. 

The RCU offense came out in the second period, scoring a goal just over six minutes into the period off the stick of Shaun Zatelli, with Garrett Benoit and Cole Zalewski recording assists. Jake Mullins would put the Warriors up in the game, netting a goal nearly 10 minutes later. Zatelli and Kyle Hauer earned assists. The RCU lead wouldn't last long as WMU responded just over a minute later, before making the final lead change before the second period horn. 

The third period didn't see much action as the shot total was 11-6 in favor of WMU. The Warriors once again fought off four power play chances by the Stallions. 

Nicholas Spognardi (2-8-1) took the loss in net for the game, making 39 saves against the 42 shots he faced. 

The Warriors will be back in action in 2026 when they return to WHAC play for a matchup against Indiana Tech on January 10 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a 7:30 PM puck drop.