Club hockey splits with Eastern Michigan

The CMU club hockey team was an overtime goal away from earning its first sweep of the season.

Central beat Eastern Michigan 5-3 on Friday, but lost 4-3 in overtime Saturday.

Right wing Jordan Jakubik’s game-tying goal late in the third period of Saturday’s game highlighted a two-goal comeback in the third period for Central. Eastern forward Jordan Wasielewski received a pass in overtime from linemate Zach Bachnak and shot it over sprawled goaltender James Bowen, who made 22 saves.

The goal was the only shot in overtime, 31 seconds after the opening faceoff.

“We didn’t pick up the guy in front of the net, which was kind of a problem all weekend,” said coach Mike Jakubik. “He was left standing there alone. (It was a) wrap-around and the puck came right to him and wide-open net.”

Central earlier lost the lead for the first time in the series when EMU defenseman Josh Rapp scored a power-play goal in the second period. Forward Chris DeRoche then extended Eastern’s lead to 3-1 with a last-minute, short-handed goal in the second period.

Eastern, a Division-I club team in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League, capitalized on special teams.

EMU scored three goals, two on the power play and one short-handed. Central committed 18 penalties on the weekend.

Mike Jakubik was frustrated with the team’s lack of composure and said it cost Central the win Saturday.
“We fought back to tie it up at the end when we needed to,” he said. “But the thing that disappointed me was the lack of discipline.”

Opening Victory

Down 4-0 in the third period Friday, Eastern began a comeback in the third period, but came up short. It scored three goals in a 10-minute span, but lost 5-3.

Freshman goaltender Zach Silver started his first game Friday for CMU and made 23 saves.

Central will spend the week preparing for Bowling Green State University.

Captain Marty Lipar said the team created momentum that will give the team energy against Bowling Green.

“For a D-I team, a win and an overtime loss, it’s a good weekend for us, for sure” he said. “Hopefully it’ll carry over into Bowling Green next weekend.”