SVSU fell 6-3 to Michigan State University at home Nov. 23.
There were no seats to spare in the bleachers for the Saturday night game against the Michigan State Spartans, and the game was fast-paced from the start. Less than three minutes into the first period, Cardinal No. 21 Aaron Shahin scored the first goal of the night.
Following Shahin’s goal, the Spartans took the offensive and kept pressure on the Cardinal defense until answering with a goal of its own. With 12:57 remaining in the first period, the score was tied, 1-1.
The Spartans continued its offensive. Cardinal penalty by No. 72 Troy McLaughlin received a minor penalty for slashing, giving Michigan State the additional advantage the team needed to score a second goal in the next play.
With the score now 2-1, SVSU was able to gain control of the puck and take some shots of their own on the MSU goaltender. The Cardinals were able to apply pressure on the Spartan defense until a two-minute penalty on Michigan State.
The 5-on-4 power play allowed Cardinal No. 74 Christian Rawlings an opportunity to score, tying the game 2-2 at the end of the first period.
Beginning the second period, MSU was quick to take control of the ice. Despite repeated shots on goal by the Spartans, Cardinal goaltender No. 93 Triston Jensen was able to prevent a goal for the first five minutes of the second period.
With 14:30 left on the clock, the play was stopped – initially without a Spartan goal – after the Cardinal goaltender covered the puck. Upon review, a goal was awarded to MSU.
With the score at 3-2, SVSU quickly tried to rebound from the latest MSU goal by keeping plays mostly on Spartan ice.
After several unsuccessful shots on goal by his team, Cardinal No. 32 Brandon Hacker earned a two-minute cross-checking penalty that the Spartans immediately capitalized on, bringing the score to 4-2.
While MSU earned a Too Many Men bench penalty with 6:40 left in the second period, the Spartans managed an effective penalty kill, and the Cardinals did not score on its power play.
At the end of the second period, Saginaw Valley trailed MSU 4-2.
The third period began competitively, and a Spartan minor penalty for slashing helped the Cardinals establish puck control. However, the Cardinals were unable to take advantage of its power play and score.
After several minutes of back-and-forth action, Cardinal No. 20 Kyle Kubiak managed a one-timer goal assisted by captain No. 19 Steven Kukla.
With the score at 4-3, MSU switched gears into more defensive play, which allowed SVSU to keep control of the puck for a majority of the third period.
With just under two minutes left in regulation, SVSU pulled its goaltender in an effort to tie the game and avoid overtime. However, MSU was able to score on the empty net.
The Cardinals pulled its goaltender once again, and once again the Spartans scored on the empty net. At the end of regulation, MSU defeated SVSU, 6-3.
SVSU plays Central Michigan University away Dec. 6 and at home the following night.
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