Michigan hockey falls to Western Michigan, 3-2, for first loss in Kalamazoo since 2003

The Wolverines came out charging and took a 2-0 lead six minutes into the game, but WMU settled in and battled back to collect a 3-2 win in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association matchup.

It is Western Michigan's first win at Lawson Arena over Michigan since 2003.

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Michigan nearly scored 40 seconds into the game on a 3-on-2 breakaway, but WMU goalie Frank Slubowski was able to stop the chance.

Phil Di Giuseppe did light the lamp 4:10 into the game for the Wolverines. WMU’s Chase Balisy, attempting to dump the puck into U-M’s zone to get a line change, turned the puck over and Di Giuseppe took a good feed on a 2-on-1 rush and scored it.

Alex Guptill gave Michigan a 2-0 lead 5:56 into the opening period when he took a feed from behind WMU’s net and fired in the puck before Slubowski could recover.

Michigan’s size was a clear advantage early in the game, but the Broncos eventually countered with their speed.

Senior Trevor Elias cut the deficit in half for Western Michigan 11:01 into the first when senior defenseman Luke Witkowski stole a Michigan pass in the neutral zone and fed it ahead to Will Kessel who then made a nice pass on the rush to Elias, who found the back of the net.

The Broncos tied the score at two goals apiece with 1:01 left in the first period when defenseman Jordan Oesterle sent in a shot from the blue line that found its way under the stick of Michigan goalie Adam Janecyk.

Michigan had a 12-5 advantage in shots in the first period, but the Broncos outshot the Wolverines 15-8 in the second.

Freshman Colton Hargrove gave the Broncos a 3-2 lead 16:01 into the second period when Justin Kovacs sent in a centering pass to a crashing Hargrove, who stuffed the puck past Janecyk.

WMU's defense stood tall in the third period as Michigan had a handful of chances.

U-M pulled Janecyk to bring on the extra attacker with 1:35 left in the game, but the Wolverines could not convert.

The Broncos and the Wolverines will face off again on Saturday in Kalamazoo.