Cougars Need OT to Split With Concordia

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougar ACHA D1 hockey team went head to head with the Concordia Cardinals, and both teams would win their respective home games over the two game weekend series.

In Game 1 vs. CUAA:  After the Cardinals scored a power play goal to open the game, Cleary stormed back to score two goals of their own to take a 2-1 lead.  Jonny Gardiner scored the team's first goal, with assists from Zach Eakes and Levi Herauf.  Zack Wiener would give the Cougars the lead on a power play, with assists from Derry MacBeth and Zach Eakes.  Cleary would hold the 2-1 lead through the end of the opening period.  CUAA would quickly add two goals to take the lead in the 2nd, but a Joe Heinzelman penalty would create plenty of dram in the latter stages of the period.  First, Levi Herauf drew a penalty on a breakaway, and a rare penalty shot was awarded, which Herauf converted to tie the game at 3-3.  In the same penalty kill, Cam Thomas got a breakaway, fired a shot, got his own rebound, and scored to give the Cougars a 4-3 lead.  Just 18 seconds later, the Cardinals would score their power play goal to tie the game at 4-4.  After neither team scored in the 3rd period, Ben Gledhow would become the hero, as he skated past the Cardinal defense, and slotted home the game-winning goal to give the Cougars a 5-4 overtime victory.

Tyler Krasofsky earned the victory, as he made 31 saves on 35 shots faced.  Five different Cougars scored in the game.

In Game 2 at CUAA:  Concordia would get on the board first just before the halfway mark of the 1st period to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.  Neither team would score the rest of the way through the 2nd period, and the Cardinals would take a 1-0 lead into the game's final 20 minutes.  In the 3rd period, CUAA added two goals to take a 3-0 lead.  On a power play, Cleary would get one back, as Wes Smith scored, with assists from Zack Wiener and Jonny Gardiner to cut the deficit to 3-1.  Down two goals, and trying to narrow the gap further, Cleary pulled goalie Koby Kebbe, and the Cardinals would score the empty net dagger.

Koby Kebbe suffered the loss in goal, making 41 saves on 44 shots.

Cleary is now 7-16, 5-11 in the WHAC.  The Cougars will be back in action next Friday and Saturday as they take on the UM-Dearborn Wolverines in a WHAC matchup.  The Cougars will host the Wolverines on Saturday, January 28 at 140 Ice Den.  The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 PM.