Adrian, MI – The number 1 seed for the Harris Cup Playoffs was on the line on Friday night as the No. 1 Adrian College NCAA men’s hockey team hosted No. 5 St. Norbert College in a NCHA contest.
The Bulldogs went down early, but battled back and recorded six goals in the third period to defeat St. Norbert 8-4. For the third season season in a row, the Bulldogs are regular season champions as they pull ahead of the Green Knights by five points heading into the final regular season game.
St. Norbert came out with the first strike with just under two minutes played in the game to lead 1-0. Adrian had it’s opportunities in the first period as they put 16 shots on goal, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
The Green Knights came out of the intermission and took a 2-0 lead after a power play goal. Four minutes later, Sam Ruffin put the Bulldogs on the board to make it 2-1. St. Norbert responded with another goal, but a minute later, Dante Spagnuolo put Adrian back within one to head into the second intermission trailing 3-2.
The Bulldogs were explosive in the third period netting six total goals to come back and win the game. Zach Goberis tied the game at 3-3 shortly followed by a goal from Matt Couto to take the lead. The Bulldogs went back on the penalty kill, but Matus Spodniak caught a breakaway and scored shorthanded and unassisted to extend the lead. Trevor Coykendall and Zachary Heintz added goals in the third to lead 7-3 followed by Spagnuolo’s second of the game to go up five. St. Norbert struck on another power play late in the game, but it wasn’t enough to erase the Adrian lead.
Adrian’s Cameron Gray sits as the only perfect goaltender in DIII as St. Norbert’s goaltender picked up his first loss of the season.
Adrian returns to the ice on Saturday at 3:05 PM to take on the Green Knights in the regular season finale.
*Media courtesy of Adrian College Athletics*