ADRIAN, Mich.--The Adrian College ACHA black hockey team got off to a tremendous start on Friday night, but could not sustain the momentum later in the game, as the Davenport Panthers scored four unanswered goals in a come from behind 4-2 win over the Bulldogs at Arrington Ice Arena.
Adrian scored the game's first two goals as freshman forward Joel Wakelin grabbed a pass from freshman forward James Smith and tucked it beneath the pads of Davenport net minder Andrew Habasevich to make it 1-0. The goal, Wakelin's second of the season, was followed by freshman forward Brandon McLean's first goal of the season at the 13:19 mark, with assists from freshmen forward Sean Smalley and defenseman Anthony Longo, to push the Dogs advantage to 2-0.
Davenport's leading scorer Jordan Crawford began the Panthers comeback scoring an unassisted goal to cut the lead to 2-1 after the first 20 minutes.
Despite the Bulldogs outshooting the Panthers 19-6 in the second period, Crawford was able to score the only goal of the second just 1:03 into the period.
The two teams traded excellent scoring opportunities in the first ten minutes of the third, until Hunter Ellens was able to score the game winner with 10:03 left in the contest. Davenport would close out the game with an empty net goal which gave them a 4-2 lead with under a minute to go
Habasevich's 41 saves earned him the win for Davenport, as he evened his record at 3-3. Adrian freshman goaltender Gilbert Oldreive made 19 saves for the Bulldogs, who outshot Davenport 43-23 for the game.
The two squads will meet again on Saturday night in Grand Rapids starting at 8 p.m.
--David VanGeison
