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Northern Michigan Hockey Team Earns First Win
 Story and photo courtesy of NMU Sports Information MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan hockey team picked up its first win of the season on Saturday as the Wildcats defeated Ferris State 4-1 in CCHA action at the Berry Events Center. Josh Zinger, Kevin Marx Noren, Artem Shlaine, and Viking Gustafsson Nyberg scored for the Wildcats, all season-firsts, while it was career-firsts for Marx Noren and Gustafsson Nyberg. The Wildcats faced a 1-0 deficit after the first period, as the Bulldogs' Antonio Venuto found the back of the net on the power play with 6:35 left in the opening 20 minutes. Similar to Friday night, the Green and Gold looked a step slow in the first period, being outshot 10-6 to go along with the one-goal deficit. NMU would find rhythm in the second. Zinger lit the lamp on the power play with 13:57 on the clock to even the score at one aside. Marx Noren picked up an assist, his first career point, while Shlaine also added an apple. Marx Noren would not be finished, as he then added his first career goal on a redirect with 5:25 left in the second to give the 'Cats a 2-1 advantage. Aiden Gallacher added the helper. Working with a 2-1 edge in the third, Northern extended the lead to 3-1 on the power play, as Shlaine ripped a shot to the top shelf for his first tally of the season. Down the stretch, Beni Halasz would come up with timely saves in net for the 'Cats, as he rejected all 20 shots sent his way in the final period. To put the icing on the cake, Gustafsson Nyberg scored his first career goal in empty-net variety to put the final touch on a 4-1 victory. Northern was outshot in the contest 38-28, but Halasz shined in net, stopping 37 of the 38 sent his way for a .974 save percentage. It was a breakthrough performance for Marx Noren, as his goal and assist were both career firsts, and he was the lone skater in the contest be a +3. Shlaine also recorded a two-point night, while five other Wildcats added one. Shlaine once again dominatied the night at the faceoff circle going 12/17 (70.6%) while Northern as a collective went 32/54 (59.3%). With a point in Friday's OT loss and three in Saturday's victory, NMU picked up four of a possible six points in its opening CCHA series. |
