With losing one game and tying another in Iowa last weekend – where the Flashes have only one win since 1995 – the Kent State club hockey team was looking for two wins at home over the weekend.

The No.10 ranked Flashes beat Washington & Jefferson 6-4 Friday and Adrian College 7-4 Saturday at the Kent State Ice Arena.

The Presidents came out strong Friday, scoring two goals in the first period and leaving Kent State to wonder if it would repeat losing to an unranked team.

“We weren’t working hard enough,” forward Stu Smith said. “We need to stay out of the penalty box.”

Flashes forward Eric Horschler scored a goal with three minutes left in the second period, and forward Eddie Martin added a powerplay goal with a minute-and-half left. The Presidents scored with seven seconds left in the period keeping them up by one.

Less than a minute into the third period, W&J scored, bringing them up two. The Flashes made a goalie change in hopes of holding the Presidents.

Forwards Jon Canniff and Jason O’Bannon scored, bringing the Flashes even with the Presidents. Defensemen Kye Budziszewski scored his first goal of the season, giving Kent State the lead with eight minutes left.

“We were trying to advance the puck, and (Chris) Hourigan gave me a good assist,” Budziszewski said. “The goal lifted our spirits, and we never looked back.”

Saturday, Kent State came out strong against Adrian College. Forward Mike LePre scored two minutes into the game, and Hourigan put up a goal ten minutes later, giving the Flashes an early 2-0 lead. Hourigan had one goal and three assists for the night.

“I’m looked at to play well,” he said. “I went three games without a goal; it feels good to be back on the scoreboard.”

The Bulldogs answered Kent State’s two goals by scoring two themselves. LePre added his second goal of the night with three seconds left in the first period, giving the Flashes a one-goal lead.

Adrian scored with eight and a half minutes left in the second period, bringing the game to a tie. Canniff quickly answered by scoring, and LePre added his third goal of the night two minutes later.

“It was exhilarating,” LePre said. “I was just doing my job.”

Forward Dave Bruder scored with 49 seconds left in the second period, bringing the score to 6-3.

With five minutes left in the third period, Bruder added another goal, which makes him the leader of the Flashes with 13 goals on the season.

The Bulldogs added a goal with two minutes left, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Flashes.

“These two wins get us back on track and bring up our confidence,” Kent State coach Jarret Whidden said. “Adrian had a hard time with our forwards because we are quicker than them.”

The Flashes return home Dec. 5 and 6 to face No.2 ranked Lindenwood (17-3).

Contact student recreation and wellness reporter Melissa Sidebotham at [email protected].