ADRIAN, Mich. - Senior forward Mike Dahlinger scored the first and last goal of the contest for Adrian College (7-2, 6-1 MCHA) and also assisted on the third goal of the night as the Bulldogs claimed a 4-1 win over visiting Concordia (Wis.) on Friday night (Dec. 3).
The big story is the game tomorrow at Michigan Stadium beginning at 9:30 AM, but Adrian had to maintain focus tonight and get two points in the league standings. Concordia drops to 1-11 overall and 1-6 in the MCHA after the Bulldogs let them hang around after two periods leading 2-1. The third period saw Adrian net a pair of goals to give themselves a little breathing room.
Dahlinger scored 1:25 into the game on a nifty individual move in the offensive zone. He weaved his way through defenders and deked the goaltender with a backhand shot for his fourth goal of the year and the 37th of his career. Brad Houston got a helper on the play and later assisted on Dahlinger's second goal.
Adrian led 1-0 after 20 minutes with a 24-6 edge in shots on goal. Everett Devlin was a busy man making 23 saves. The Falcons tied it up 1-1 at 9:07 of the second period on a 5-on-3 opportunity. Russell Johnson deflected the puck past Brad Fogal after a shot from the left point by defenseman Jari Sanders. Johnson's power play goal was also assisted by Brandon Bayer. The Bulldogs made it 2-1 at 16:56 on one of the prettiest goals of the season so far. Shawn Skelly showed a brilliant shot short-handed as he whirled around between a pair of defenders and whistled the puck past Devlin for the Bulldogs' first short-handed goal of the season.
Sam Kuzyk put Adrian ahead 3-1 at 3:40 of the third period on a shot that went off the skate of a Falcon defender and into his own net on the power play. Kuzyk slid the puck across the crease from the left wing for his second goal of the season with assists from Dahlinger and Quinn Waller. Dahlinger finished the scoring at 7:05 of the third at even strength with assists from Zach Graham and Houston.
Adrian outshot Concordia, 51-24, and converted on 1-of-4 power play chances. Dahlinger's seven shots on goal led the Bulldogs. The two teams conclude their weekend series tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM inside Michigan Stadium in the 2010 Frozen Faceoff. It will be the first NCAA Division III outdoor hockey game at the largest collegiate stadium in the country. Tickets are $10 at the gate for all adults and children aged 12 and under are just $2.
