Jan. 20, 2009

Final Stats

ADRIAN, Mich. - The power play was clicking on Tuesday night and the men's hockey team for the second year in a row defeated the U.S. National Under-18 Team. The home crowd was electric and helped the Bulldogs climb out of a 3-1 first period deficit. The start was very promising for Adrian as senior Adam Krug scored on a breakaway 1:03 into the game with an assist from sophomore Shawn Skelly.

Team USA shook off early troubles and scored a flourish of three goals to end the period. Jeremy Morin netted a hat trick on the evening and scored his first of the night at even strength at 7:36 of the first with a wicked slap shot into the top right corner of the net with an assist from Kevin Lynch. Chris McCarthy gave Team USA a 2-1 lead at 17:24 with assists from William Wrenn and Nick Mattson. Team USA had a 2-on-1 in the Adrian zone and McCarthy faked a pass and slid the puck past Brad Fogal. Morin's second goal came with 59 seconds left in the opening period and put Adrian in a two-goal hole after 20 minutes.

The energy level seemed to pick up in the early stages of the second period for the Bulldogs and they got an unexpected goal from sophomore Drew Satterley at 10:05 with assists from Riley Hughes and Brad Houston. Satterley charged the net and snapped a shot just off the left pipe to get Adrian within one goal.

The next four goals came on the power play and Adrian scored three of those to claim a 5-4 win. Eric Miller tied the game at 13:28 on a 4-on-3 advantage with a wrist shot which beat Brandon Maxwell over the right shoulder. Morin's third goal was scored against Jeremy Cross who entered the game for 10:19 in the second period. Cross could not quite get his right pad across the crease and Morin shot from the left point slid under the goaltender for a 4-3 Team USA lead.

Skelly tied the game at 4-4 with 18 seconds left in the second on the short side of the right wing as the puck looked to squirt under the left arm of Maxwell. The goal was assisted by Chris Stansik and Quinn Waller. The third period saw both teams not take too many chances but Adrian broke through with seven minutes left as Krug scored his second of the game with assists from Skelly and Stansik. The goal came just nine seconds into the advantage.

The game came down to the final seconds as Kyle Watson committed a penalty with 1:34 left. Team USA pulled Maxwell with 1:01 to go and had a 6-on-4 but could not beat Fogal who re-entered the game in the third period. The close contest saw Team USA outshoot Adrian, 36-35, but record just one goal in seven power play chances. Fogal made 26 saves in 45:20 of game action to earn the win.

The game was an exhibition contest for the Bulldogs and the result and stats do not count towards any records. Adrian remains 15-1-1 overall and 12-0 in the MCHA.