Hockey team ekes out win, then loses second game

The hockey team split its series with Central Michigan University this weekend after two overtime battles.\nEven though its loss was to one of the top-ranked teams in the country, the Hoosiers (7-2, 6-0 Midwest Collegiate Hockey League) had hoped for a better performance. \n"We let in 10 goals in two games this weekend, so we're not very happy with that," junior forward and assistant captain Bryan Grant said.\nIU slipped past the Chippewas 6-5 in overtime Friday. Despite being ahead 5-3 at the end of the second period, Central Michigan (7-4-1) came back and tied the score with 8:06 remaining in the third.\nJust 40 seconds into overtime, freshman defenseman Mike Piotrowski got a shot past Chippewa goalie Mark Andrews to clinch the contest.\nGrant lead the Hoosiers Friday with two goals and an assist. Piotrowski and junior defenseman Tim McMahon each had a goal and an assist, and junior forwards Dan Hauck and Brandon Phillips each had two assists. Five other Hoosiers had one point each.\nSenior goalie Chad Whitlock manned the net, allowing five goals in 54:30 and making 29 saves.\n"In the third period we let the lead slip away a little bit, but overall we played pretty well (Friday)," Hauck said. "We had pretty balanced scoring, and all three lines scored."\nSaturday's contest did not go as well for the Hoosiers. Central Michigan led 4-2 with only three minutes left in the third period, but IU fought back and forced the game into overtime.\nBut McMahon received a check from behind penalty with just 21 seconds remaining in the third. McMahon was disqualified from the game, and the Hoosiers had to play nearly the entire overtime with the penalty kill.\nWith 32 seconds left in overtime and only 12 seconds left on the penalty kill, CMU defenseman Travis Perry slid an unassisted goal past Hoosier senior goaltender Josh Sears to help the Chippewas avoid being swept at home.\n"I'm upset that we gave up five goals, and I'm upset we got a five-minute major penalty in overtime, but the guys came back in the last minutes of that game," assistant coach and general manager Alex Kyrias said. "That shows a lot of heart, but we let in some unfortunate goals, and it cost us."\nGrant and McMahon led the effort Saturday with a goal and an assist each, and Piotrowski chipped in two assists. Four other Hoosiers each had a point.\nSears allowed five goals and made 27 saves in 56:30 against the Chippewas, lowering his season record to 2-1 and knocking his save percentage to a still-impressive 90.2 percent.\nOverall, Kyrias said he was happy with the team's performance this weekend.\n"A loss in overtime to a team that is always a nationals participant, on the road -- we don't hang our heads very much," Kyrias said. "Both games were good, and that's what we were looking for."\nThe Hoosiers hope to improve their luck against the Life University Running Eagles in a two-game home series at the Frank Southern Center, 1965 S. Henderson Ave., Friday and Saturday. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.\n"They won nationals three of the past four years," Grant said. "That should be enough motivation for us to come out and play well"