Michigan
3-1-0
Vermont
2-4-0
Slaker's Late-Game Heroics Push Wolverines to Weekend Sweep
10/21/2017 8:21:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Jake Slaker recorded two goals in the third period, including the first game-winner of his career.
» Adam Winborg contributed with his first goal of the season.
» Hayden Lavigne recorded 28 saves in net while earning his first victory of the season.
Site:Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: Michigan 3, Vermont 2
Records: U-M (3-1-0), Vermont (2-4-0)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 27 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team rallied from a 2-1 deficit entering the third period to defeat Vermont, 3-2, behind two goals from sophomore Jake Slaker on Saturday (Oct. 21) at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
At the end of the first period the score was even at 1, with the Wolverines scoring late in the period. Vermont struck first with a shorthanded goal from freshman Max Kaufman, assisted by junior Craig Puffer, at the 12:19 mark to earn an early 1-0 lead. Michigan evened up the game with a goal from sophomore Adam Winborg, assisted by junior Joseph Cecconi and senior Sam Piazza at the 18:17 mark. The goal marked Winborg's first of the season and ninth of his career.
Vermont junior Drew Best took advantage of a Vermont power-play opportunity, scoring on an assist by Puffer and sophomore Jake Massie for at the 7:48 mark, giving the Catamounts a 2-1 lead. Through two periods, Vermont held the edge in shots with 18 compared to Michigan's 15 -- coming at the heels of only recording 16 shots in the entirety of Friday's game against the Wolverines.
Down one goal, the Wolverines played aggressively looking for quick ways to score, recording five shots in the first five minutes of the third period while holding the Catamounts to only one shot. Michigan finally connected at the 15:07 mark to even the score at 2, on sophomore Slaker's first goal of the season, assisted by freshman Quinn Hughes. Slaker went on to tally the game-winning goal on an assist from sophomore Will Lockwood on a snipe from the right faceoff circle four minutes later to give the Wolverines a 3-2 edge.
This is Slaker's second career game with two goals -- coincidently happening on Oct. 21 of last season in a 4-3 win over Michigan Tech. The San Diego, California, native recorded a three-point weekend, recording an assist in the Wolverine's 4-1 win yesterday over the Catamounts.
Lavigne recorded 28 saves for the Wolverines while improving his record to 1-1-0 on the season.Â
During this weekend series against Vermont, Michigan held the Catamounts to just 46 shots. The Wolverines' low in shot totals for a weekend series last year was 51 against Lake Superior State on Nov. 25-26, 2016.
The Maize and Blue will kick off the Big Ten schedule next weekend when they travel to Penn State (Oct. 27-28) to face off against the defending B1G Tournament Champions. The Nittany Lions ended Michigan's season last year with a 4-1 victory in the conference quarterfinals at Joe Louis Arena, en route to Penn State's first conference crown in program history.
