Wolverines Pull Away from Aquinas for 4–1 Conference Win
UM-Dearborn used a balanced offensive effort and strong play in net to secure a 4–1 victory over Aquinas on Friday night at Yack Arena, scoring three unanswered goals after an early tie to improve to 8-5-0 in conference action.
WYANDOTTE, Mich. – The University of Michigan-Dearborn men's ice hockey controlled the pace for much of the night and pulled away with a 4–1 victory over Aquinas on Friday evening at the Yack Arena, improving to 11-9-1 overall and 8-5-0 in conference play.
The two teams traded goals midway through the opening period. Aquinas struck first at 9:21, but the Wolverines answered just 24 seconds later when Carter Allen finished a feed from David Dell and Bailey Byrd to even the score at 1–1. Michigan-Dearborn carried that momentum into the intermission, outshooting the Saints 13–5 in the first.
The Wolverines took control in the second period, scoring twice to build a 3–1 cushion. Zak Januszkowski put UM-Dearborn ahead for good at 3:47, converting a setup from Ryan Teets. Later in the frame, the Wolverines capitalized on their lone power-play opportunity as Byrd netted a man-advantage goal at 8:47, assisted by Caleb Cathcart and Dell.
Michigan-Dearborn continued to apply pressure in the third and sealed the win with a late goal from Jake Emery at 15:52, with Brenden Paden earning the assist. The Wolverines finished the night with a 37–25 advantage in shots and limited Aquinas to just one power-play chance, which it did not convert.
Trevor Heslop earned the win in goal for Michigan-Dearborn, stopping 24 of 25 shots to improve to 9-2-1 on the season. Bailey Byrd led the Wolverines offensively with a goal and an assist, while Cathcart and Januszkowski also turned in strong performances, earning all three of the game's star selections.
