Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State University
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Western Ontario (Exhibition)
Spartans Post Exhibition Victory, 4-3
10/6/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 6, 2008
East Lansing, Mich. - Freshman Daultan Leveille snapped a 3-3 tie with a power-play goal at 13:23 of the third period as Michigan State skated to a 4-3 exhibition victory over Western Ontario on Monday evening at Munn Arena. The Spartans held on despite the Mustangs skating six-on-four for the final minute, thanks to some big saves by junior netminder Bobby Jarosz.
Michigan State jumped out to a 2-0 lead inside of the opening five minutes, with both goals coming on power-play strikes. The first came at 2:29, when Corey Tropp redirected a cross-slot pass from Ryan Turek; the second was at 4:42 when Matt Schepke fired a shot from the doorstep at the left side of the crease. Ben Warda and Tim Buttery assisted on the tally. Freshman Adam Henderson added a score at 11:55 to send the Spartans into the locker room with a 3-0 advantage at the end of the first period.
Western Ontario chipped into the lead at 9:08 of the middle frame, when Mustangs blueliner Adam Nemeth fired a slapshot from the right point that was tipped in the slot by Matt Raymond, beating freshman netminder Drew Palmisano stick-side. The Spartan lead was trimmed to one at 18:23 with a Mustang power-play tally; Ryan Martinelli fired a slapshot that went wide and off the back wall. The rebound came out to a waiting Kevin Baker on the doorstep on the left side, and he flipped it past Palmisano's stick hand. With Tim Buttery in the box for the balance of the period on a cross-checking call, Western Ontario tied the game on an unassisted goal by Nemeth, who fired a shot through traffic.
Leveille got the go-ahead goal for the Spartans at 13:23, skating on the power play. The play began as a blast from the right point by Jeff Petry. Brad Topping made the save, but lost the puck - it had squirted out to the right side onto the stick of Leveille, who had a wide-open right side into which he deposited the puck.
The Spartans withheld a final rush from Western Ontario. Brandon Gentile was whistled for contact to the head-elbowing at 18:06, putting WOU on the power play for the balance of the game. The Mustangs pulled their goaltender for the final minute, but Bobby Jarosz came up with two fantastic saves in the waning seconds to preserve the victory.
Each of the MSU goalies played a period. Jeff Lerg made five saves in his shutout opening frame, Palmisano had 11 saves, and Bobby Jarosz made 12 stops in the final stanza - including the critical ones in the final two minutes of regulation.. Western Ontario made a goalie change as well, at the halfway point - Keyvan Hunt drew the start and made three saves in 32:26, and Brad Topping played the balance of the contest, making 12 stops.
Michigan State opens its 68th season of varsity hockey on Friday in Boston at the Ice Breaker Invitational. The Spartans take on Massachusetts at 4:30 on Friday, and host Boston University on Saturday at 7:30.
