Hockey Wins Shootout to Split Series with Kent State

(Howell, MI)-- The Kent State Golden Flashes and the Cleary Cougars ACHA hockey teams traded wins, with the two teams each claiming victory on home ice this weekend.

In Game 1 at Kent St.:

The Golden Flashes scored the game's first goal, but shortly after, Ben Gledhow scored, with assists from Jonny Gardiner and Reno Parker, to tie the game, and the two teams went into the first intermission tied 1-1.  In the 2nd period, Kent State scored back to back power play goals to take a 3-1 lead.  Late in the period, Zach Eakes scored, with assists from Levi Herauf and Bennett Sheppard, to cut into the deficit.  Unfortunately for the Cougars, the 3rd period was all Kent State, as the hosts added two more goals to take the game 5-2.

Liam Kocur made 55 saves on 59 shots faced (1 empty net goal allowed).  

In Game 2 vs. Kent St.:

Kent State took the lead halfway through the opening period, and they would hold onto the lead into the first intermission by the same score.  Two Golden Flash goals would give the visitors a 3-0 lead, before Zack Wiener scored a shorthanded goal to tie the game, with an assist from Jonny Gardiner, to cut the deficit to 3-1 going into the final 20 minutes.  Cleary would cut into the lead on a Brendyn Galloner power play goal, with assists from Ben Gledhow and Wes Smith, and then the Cougars would tie on another power play goal, this time by Billy Simms, with an assist from Wes Smith.  Kent State would retake the lead at 4-3, but another Billy Simms power play goal, with assists from Wes Smith and Jonny Gardiner, would give the tie the game again.  Kent State would score their final goal with seven minutes to go, but Wes Smith would tie the game, with an assist from Wayne Taiman, to make it 5-5, a score that would hold through the rest of regulation.  After five minutes of free hockey and no game-winner, a penalty shootout was needed.  Cleary's Bennett Sheppard would be the only skater to get the puck home, as the Cougars won the shootout 1-0.

Liam Kocur made 33 saves on 38 shots faced in the game.

Cleary is now 0-3-1.  The Cougars will open WHAC play next weekend with a two game series vs. the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils.  Cleary will host on Friday, October 6 at 140 Ice Den, with the puck dropping at 7:30 PM.