ADRIAN, Mich. — The Adrian College men's ACHA Division 3 hockey team split a two-game series with the University of Michigan-Flint over the weekend, earning a 5-2 road victory on Friday, November 6, before falling 4-3 in overtime at home on Sunday, November 8. The Bulldogs combined for eight goals across the two contests, led by James Schmidt's three-goal weekend.
Adrian opened the series Friday with a 5-2 victory over Michigan-Flint. Schmidt put the Bulldogs on the board at the 5:05 mark of the first period, assisted by Anthony Alfonsi. After Michigan-Flint tied the game on a power-play goal, Solyom Andras restored Adrian's lead at 11:41 with assists from Ty Rollenhagen and Alfonsi. Michigan-Flint answered with a shorthanded goal, but Brett Whitten scored at 18:02 to give Adrian a 3-2 advantage entering the first intermission. Neither team scored in the second period.
The Bulldogs added two insurance goals in the third period to secure the victory. Joey Laporte extended the lead at 2:23, assisted by Whitten and Cameron Mahony, before Whitten recorded his second goal of the night at 7:01 off an assist from Andras. Whitten finished with three points on two goals and an assist, while Andras and Laporte each contributed a goal and an assist. Alfonsi added two assists, and goaltender Ryan Rainey made 23 saves on 25 shots as Adrian outshot Michigan-Flint 30-25.
Adrian returned home Sunday for the second game of the series, falling 4-3 in overtime despite holding a 57-32 advantage in shots. Alfonsi opened the scoring at 5:45 of the first period before Schmidt doubled the Bulldogs' lead at 13:11, assisted by Andras and Alfonsi. Michigan-Flint responded with two goals late in the opening period to even the score at 2-2.
Schmidt scored his second goal of the afternoon at 19:33 of the second period, with Maxim Sorel recording the assist, giving Adrian a 3-2 lead heading into the final period. Michigan-Flint tied the game at 4:16 of the third period before securing the victory with an overtime goal at 4:19. Schmidt led Adrian with two goals, while Alfonsi finished with a goal and an assist. Rainey recorded 28 saves in the loss.
Across the two games, Schmidt led the Bulldogs with three goals, while Whitten finished with two goals and an assist. Alfonsi contributed a goal and three assists for a team-high four points, and Andras added a goal and two assists. Rainey totaled 51 saves over the weekend.
The Bulldogs return to Arrington Ice Arena on Saturday, November 14, when they host the University of Michigan in MCHC action at 7:00 PM. Adrian will then face Northern Arizona University on Sunday, November 15, at 1:00 PM.
