‘We need to be better top to bottom’: Hockey splits weekend matchup with Cleary University

Epiphany Graham, Reporter

October 4, 2023

The Kent State hockey team is now 5-0-1 after winning one game against Cleary University then losing in an overtime shootout.

“We can’t seem to pull two really good performances together yet… still a lot of work for us moving forward with great potential,” coach Zack Nowak said.

Cleary University’s record is 0-3-1

GAME 1:

The Flashes took the lead at the start of the game.

Sophomore defenseman Brian Odstrchel scored, ending the first period tied at 1-1.

Junior forward Johnny Gabriel made a rebound shot, making the score 2-1.

Shortly after, freshman defenseman Eric Hambling took an open shot and scored his first as a Flash, bringing Kent State on top with a score of 3-1.

Senior forward Jack Kinsman, College Hockey Mid-America’s selected player of the week, showed out in third period to finish the game.

Kinsman scored with 8:30 left, then scored again, finishing the game with an empty netter. The final score was 5-2, Flashes.

“Overall, we played pretty well, and I feel we (the team) are all proud of our performance on Friday,” Novak said.

GAME 2:

To start the game, Kinsman scored, putting the Flashes in the lead 1-0.

With 11:11 left in the game, freshman forward Bryson Miller scored to bring the score to 2-0 Flashes.

Junior forward Johnny Gabriel scored a little while later, ending the 2nd period with a score of 3-1 Flashes.

Cleary scored with 15:18 left in the third quarter, then the team scored again, making the score tied 3-3.

Miller got his second goal of the game to help the Flashes take back the lead. With 10:07 left in the game, the score was 4-3, Flashes.

Cleary then tied up the game again, making the score 4-4 with nine minutes left.

Freshman defenseman JJ Creighton scored big, making the score 5-4, but Clearly came back to tie it up with 6:54 left in the game.

The game went into overtime with no scores. Cleary won in a shootout.

“We definitely struggle on breakaways, struggle on putting the puck in the net consistently, with lack awareness and communication in the defensive zone,” Nowak said.