Cougars Storm Back to Win 4-3 in Overtime, Advance to WHAC Semifinals

(Howell, MI)-- The Cleary Cougars ACHA Hockey team traveled down to Fort Wayne, Indiana this afternoon for the first round of the WHAC Hockey Playoffs as the 4-seed. They would take on the 5-seed Aquinas College Saints in the quarterfinal match. 

Both teams looked to settle in early and get the nerves out of playoff hockey. With it looking like the Cougars were going to take over the game early in the first period, Aquinas would quickly flip the script and score the game's opening goal at the 9:55 mark. Aquinas would take the game from there and outshoot the Cougars 17-15 in the first period. In the second period, the Cougars would face an early penalty from Billy Simms for Interference. As the penalty came to an end and looking like the Cougars killed the Aquinas power play, Aquinas would get another shot past Cleary goaltender Nick Meyering making it 2-0 in favor of the Saints. The Cougar defense would lockdown for the remainder of the period but would not be able to get anything back in return. Heading into the third period Aquinas looked to put the game away with an insurance goal just 2:49 into the period. Cleary would get on the board later in the period on a power play goal from Brett Woolcott and an assist from Zane Rydel. Less than one minute later the Cougars took the game and made it a 3-2 with a goal from Collin Kerchoff, and assists from JC Garbacik and Braeden Bzovey. With 2:43 left in the game, the Cougars would get a power play opportunity to tie the game. Wes Smith would rip a shot that would deflect off of the Aquinas goaltender's pads. Dylan Tammadge would collect the rebound off the goaltender and put it in the back of the net tying the game at 3-3 with just over 2 minutes left to play. The game would go to overtime with the Cougars dominating the puck in Aquinas' zone. Levi Herauf would get the puck behind the net. He would find Collin Kerchoff for a centering pass who would rip it past the Saints goalkeeper. Kerchoff's goal was the second of the game for him and would give the Cougars a 4-3 overtime win. 

Nick Meyering (12-8) would get the win in net making 38 saves on 41 shots. 

Cleary's win marks its first WHAC tournament win since the 2020-2021 season when they beat Rochester 5-4 on March 19, 2021. It also marks the second tournament win in the history of the hockey program. Cleary will now take on the #1 seed and #14 in the nation Indiana Tech Warriors in the WHAC Conference Tournament Semifinals tomorrow at 3:00 PM in Fort Wayne, Indiana.