Spartans Down No. 5/6 WMU, 3-2

Nov. 11, 2011

Kalamazoo, Mich. - Michigan State rode a career-best 38-save performance from sophomore Will Yanakeff as the Spartans held on to a 3-2 win over No. 5/6 Western Michigan on the road on Friday evening.

"I thought that we played with poise tonight, and we never panicked," said head coach Tom Anastos, who's team picked up its first road victory of the CCHA season. "Our players have committed themselves to playing hard for 60 minutes. I think we've seen that starting to pay off. Will was fantastic tonight, too - I think we saw what he was capable of. He did a really nice job for us."

Daultan Leveille, Kevin Walrod, and Mike Merrifield had the goals for the Spartans, who improved to 5-4-0 and 2-3-0 in conference play. Western Michigan loses its second straight and falls to 6-2-3, 4-2-1 in CCHA action. The two teams will face off again on Saturday at 7 p.m. in a game that will be televised on Comcast in mid-Michigan.

The Spartans jumped the Broncos early. Tanner Sorenson and Daultan Leveille did anice job of keeping the puck below the goal line, and got the puck over to the right side for a free Mike Merrifield. Merrifield swung it out to Tim Buttery at the point, and Buttery's shot hit Merrifield on the way in, as Merrifield was stationed in front of the net. The loose puck was collected by Leveille on the left side, and he got it past Pisellini for his first goal of the season.

MSU doubled their lead midway through the second period. Anthony Hayes intercepted a pass between the hash marks in the defensive zone and turned quickly to create a rush the other way. Hayes sent a lead pass for Kevin Walrod, who beat the defender and had a semi-breakaway, and his shot hit the inside of the upper right corner over the glove hand of Pisilleni.

The home team cut the lead in half at the 14:27 mark. Matt Tennyson, stationed at the left point, took the pass from Dennis Brown; his slapshot hit the MSU defender in front and redirected past Yanakeff.

Less than three minutes later, the Spartans extended their lead to a pair of goals once again, forcing a turnover in the neutral zone. Lee Reimer sent the lead pass to Merrifield, and he went in alone on the goalie, deked, and faked out Pisellini, getting the goal low, glove-side.

Western Michigan came out and got a goal early in the third period to once again pull within a goal. Dennis Brown got the Bronco tally, with assists going to Jordan Osterle and Derek Roehl. The Broncos peppered Yanakeff with 15 saves in the final period, but also missed the net completely on some Grade-A chances as they pressed for a tying goal. At the other end, Pisellini was untested for most of the period, as the Spartans were unable to generate many shots on net - they finished with three in the third period and 16 in the contest.

With just under five minutes remaining in the game, Ian Slater was whistled for a hold, putting MSU on the man advantage for the third time on the night, but MSU struggled to maintain possession in the offensive zone and got only one shot, on a point-blank Brett Perlini shot into Pisellini's chest.

Back in the Spartan end, however, Yanakeff stood tall. He finished his night with a career-best 38 saves.