Michigan
3-1-0
Quinnipiac
2-1-0
Kaleniecki's Quad Quashes Quinnipiac's Bid for Upset
10/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan hockey team came from behind to defeat Quinnipiac University 5-4 Friday night (Oct. 17) at Yost Ice Arena. Sophomore Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) netted a career-high four goals, including the game-winner with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Junior David Moss (Dearborn, Mich.) picked up three assists on the night, two of which were to Kaleniecki.
Although the visiting Bobcats outshot U-M in the early going, Kaleniecki got the Wolverines on the board first at 2:40 in the first period. The play began when junior Charlie Henderson (East Lansing, Mich.) out-hustled a Quinnipiac defender and recovered a dump-in pass in the right corner. With the defender draped all over him, Henderson collected the puck and found Kaleniecki wide open in front of the Quinnipiac net. Kaleniecki settled Henderson's pass and slotted the puck in the upper left hand corner of the net past goaltender Jamie Holden.
Junior Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) extended the Wolverines lead to 2-0 at 12:02 when he notched his first power-play goal of the year. Nystrom, who was set up just outside the right side of the crease, received a cross-ice pass from freshman T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) and tipped the puck into the Quinnipiac net past a sprawled-out Holden. Moss also picked up an assist on the power-play goal.
The Bobcats lessened the deficit to one goal at 15:05 in the first period when forward Joe Dumais stuffed home a rebound past sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.). Montoya made an acrobatic save with his right pad on the initial shot by Quinnipiac forward John Kelly, but he was unable to stop Dumais' shot from an extreme angle just outside the left side of the crease.
Following an icing call on the Wolverines on their own power play, the Bobcats netted a shorthanded goal at 7:24 in the second period off a faceoff win in the left circle. Quinnipiac forward Ty Deinema won the faceoff and sent the puck back to Aaron Ludwig, who was set up behind Deinema in the circle. Ludwig then sent a wrist shot past Montoya high on the glove side.
At 9:58 in the second period, the Wolverines went back on top 3-2, when Kaleniecki knocked home a rebound for his second marker of the night. The initial shot by Moss was saved by Holden, but the Quinnipiac goaltender was unable to control the puck as it trickled out to the left side of the crease where Kaleniecki swooped in and stuffed home the rebound shot. Moss was credited with the assist, his third of the night.
The Bobcats pulled even once again at 3-3 14:56 into the second period when Chris White slid a shot past Montoya low on the right side of the net. The play began when Bobcat forward Dustin Hughes sent a pass to White from behind the net. White, who was stationed in the slot, calmly received the pass and flicked a quick wrist shot past Montoya, who appeared to be screened on the shot.
Quinnipiac continued to roll and took the lead only 16 seconds later when forward Craig Falite scored his first marker of the night. For the second time in the period the Bobcats turned a faceoff win into a goal. Dumais won the faceoff in the right circle and played the puck into the slot. The Michigan defense was unable to clear the puck and Falite jumped on the loose puck and wristed it past Montoya.
Kaleniecki evened the score at 4-4 2:58 in the third period and completed his hat trick when he fired a one-time shot past Holden. Kaleniecki received the pass just outside the crease from Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.), who was behind the net, and fired the puck over Holden's left shoulder for his first career three-goal effort.
The Wolverines seemingly took a 5-4 lead only seconds later when Moss tipped in a loose puck out in front of the Quinnipiac net. The goal was disallowed, however, as the official ruled Moss kicked the puck.
Kaleniecki continued his heroics as he netted his fourth goal of the night with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Kaleniecki received the puck in the right circle following a faceoff win by Ebbett and sent a backhand shot over the right shoulder of Holden to put the Wolverines up 5-4. Kaleniecki's fourth tally proved to be the game-winning goal for the Wolverines.
Michigan (3-1) will take on Quinnipiac (2-1) in the final game of the weekend doubleheader tomorrow night (Oct. 18). Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
