Cougars Split Weekend Series With Blue Devils

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougars ACHA Hockey team took on the Lawrence Tech University Blue Devils this weekend. Friday night's game would be an overtime thriller while Saturday's game would be an offensive showcase for the Cougars. 

In Game 1 vs Lawrence Tech:

The Blue Devils would get on the board first but it wouldn't take long for the Cougars to respond. Wes Smith would find Zane Rydel in front of the net with the puck bouncing around before being punched into the net to tie the game at 1-1. Both teams would go to the locker room to find a solution for the second period. Lawrence Tech would capitalize scoring one goal to take a 2-1 lead. They would outshoot the Cougars 19-9 in the second period. With both teams playing a very good defensive game and the Cougars looking to tie the game, they would pull the goalie with just over two minutes left in the game to put an extra man on the ice. It would take them just 19 seconds as Bennett Sheppard found Dylan Tammadge in the front of the net and he would put it past the Blue Devil's goalie for a 2-2 tie game. The game would head to overtime where 3 on 3 play would ensue. A costly Cougar penalty would allow Lawrence Tech to add an extra man on the ice. They would capitalize as the puck took a crazy bounce off of a Blue Devil skate and found the back of the net leaving the Cougars with a 3-2 overtime loss. 

Nick Meyering (4-3) would suffer the loss in goal making 39 saves on 42 shots. Lawrence Tech would outshot the Cougars 42-35.

In Game 2 at Lawrence Tech:

The Cougars offense would explode in this game scoring 7 goals on the night. Steven Miller kicked things off with the game's opening and only goal of the first period. Lawrence Tech was able to tie things up at 1-1 in the second period before the Cougars would take over. Cleary would go on to score 4 unanswered goals to make it a 5-1 lead after two periods of play. Dawson Smith, Dylan Tammadge, and Wes Smith would all score in the period with Wes Smith scoring twice. Lawrence Tech would gain one back in the third, however, JC Garbacik and Bennett Shepard wouldn't allow the comeback as they both found the back of the net for the Cougars. Cleary would go on to win by a demanding score of 7-2. 

Vincent Parent (5-3) started in goal for the Cougars and picked up his 5th win of the season. Both teams found the penalty box tonight as Cleary would commit 16 minutes worth of penalties while Lawrence Tech would be in the box for 27 minutes. 

Cleary is now 10-6 on the season and 7-3 in WHAC Conference play. They hit the rink again next weekend with a matchup against Michigan - Dearborn. Friday night's game will be a home game for the Cougars at 140 Ice Den. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.