Broncos Complete Dutchmen Sweep

In the second of a two-game set at Western Michigan, the men’s hockey team (10-5-3) fell 3-1 to the Broncos (10-6-4) in front of 1,532 fans at Lawson Arena.

With a 1-0 lead entering the second period, Western Michigan scored two goals in a span of 29 seconds to take control of the contest.

Just two minutes into the period, Mike Levendusky’s shot from the point deflected off a Union stick in front of the net and beat Kinkaid at 2:03. Then at 2:32, Kyle O’Kane scored from in close off a centering feed from Derek Roehl, giving the Broncos a 3-0 lead.

With the two teams skating 4-on-4 later in the period, sophomore forward Wayne Simpson helped Union cut the Western Michigan lead to 3-1. Simpson took a long feed from Mat Bodie, cut into the high slot and fired a low wrist shot past Western Michigan goaltender Jerry Kuhn at 6:00.

With the Broncos sitting back in their zone for most of the third period, Union had difficulty getting quality scoring chances the rest of the way. Simpson had Union’s best opportunity to cut into the lead, firing a wrist shot off the outside of the post midway through the final period of play.

For just the fourth time this season, Union allowed its opponent to score the first goal of the game.

Western Michigan forward Max Campbell got the Broncos on the board at 10:41 of the first period. Campbell took a feed from Greg Squires, skated across the middle of the zone and fired a wrist shot over the shoulder of sophomore goaltender Keith Kinkaid to give WMU at 1-0 lead.

The Broncos would go on to outshoot Union 14-6 in the second period, when they took control of the game. For the game, Western Michigan held a 25-19 shot advantage. Union will take on Minnesota after the holidays in the Mariucci Classic on Dec. 31 at 7:00 p.m. local time.