BENSENVILLE, Ill. - The No. 7 University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey team opened the 2017-18 campaign with a tough test against No. 10 Robert Morris University Friday in Bensenville, Ill.
The game went back and forth, with each team holding the lead on multiple occasions. The Wolverines scored the final two goals of the game to capture the 5-4 win to start 1-0.
After the Eagles scored first, sophomore Justin Dunn (SO/Trenton, MI) found the back of the net for his first goal of the season, followed the first career goal for Jared Dedenbach (JR/Warren, MI) shortly thereafter to put UM-Dearborn up 2-1. RMU found an equalizer just before the end of the first to head into the locker room with a tie score.
Senior Andrew Palushaj (SR/Livonia, MI) quickly put the Wolverines back in front on assists from Tyler Groat (JR/Wyandotte, MI) and Marcus McSweeney (SR/Chandler, Ariz.), but RMU again pulled even later in the period. The Eagles regained the lead and looked to be heading into the second intermission ahead, until Groat finished a one timer on a power play with 14 seconds to go in the second.
The Wolverines went ahead for good with the first goal of the season from the new captain Kevin Bechard (JR/Trenton, MI). Palushaj and Troy Saunders (JR/Canton, Mich.) got the assists on the game winner.
The Wolverines and Eagles close the weekend series at 7:20 p.m. (CDT) Saturday in Bensenville.
NOTE: Statistics for this game are not official as they were not provided by the host school.
