Four-Goal Third Fuels No. 6 Wolverines’ Comeback Win Over No. 4 Maryville
A relentless third-period surge powered the No. 6 University of Michigan-Dearborn women’s ice hockey team to a statement win Friday night, as the Wolverines erased a two-goal deficit and outscored No. 4 Maryville 4–1 in the final frame to secure a 6–4 victory at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center.
DEARBORN, Mich. -- The No. 6 University of Michigan-Dearborn women's ice hockey team erased a three-goal deficit and delivered a dominant third period to knock off No. 4 Maryville University, 6–4, Friday night at the Dearborn Ice Skating Center.
After falling behind 3–0 early in the second period, the Wolverines (18-1-0, 6-0) scored four unanswered and sit deadlocked at four with seven minutes remaining in the game. The Wolverines would score twice over the final minutes of regulation and seal a crucial ranked win.
Maryville struck quickly, opening the scoring just 23 seconds into the game, and doubled its lead midway through the first period on a power-play goal to take a 2–0 advantage after one. The Saints added another early in the second to push the margin to 3–0, but Michigan-Dearborn responded with a pair of power-play tallies to swing momentum.
Pallavi Hari jump-started the comeback at 7:53 of the second period, burying a power-play goal before striking again just over four minutes later with another man-advantage finish to pull the Wolverines within one heading into the intermission.
Michigan-Dearborn carried that momentum into the third, tying the game less than two minutes in when Megan Kosempel finished a feed from Hari to make it 3–3. The Wolverines took their first lead of the night at 8:47 on a shorthanded goal from Cadence Pero, giving the home side a 4–3 edge.
Maryville briefly answered at 13:07 to even the score, but the Wolverines responded immediately. Nicole Hahn netted the eventual game-winner at 15:37, and Pero sealed the victory with an empty-net goal in the final minute, completing a four-goal third period.
Hari led the Wolverines with two goals and an assist and was named the game's first star. Pero added two goals and an assist, including a shorthanded marker and the empty-netter, while Hahn's late goal proved decisive. Kenna Borso earned the win in net, stopping 32 of 36 shots.
Despite being outshot 36–22, Michigan-Dearborn capitalized on special teams, going 2-for-6 on the power play while also scoring shorthanded.
