NTAC 9, Squirrels 5

The Squirrels fell to 0-2 since being moved up a division with a 9-5 loss to NTAC on Wednesday. However, the Squirrels made it really interesting down the stretch by tying the game at 5 after being down 5-3 in the third period.

The Squirrels started the game off well as Chris Wautel broke away and scored less than a minute into the game. NTAC tied it up on a power play, and the Squirrels took the lead again as Mich’l Bronson made a few nifty moved and hovered in a backhand shot. NTAC scored the last two goals of the period for a 3-2 lead.

NTAC went up 4-2 in the second period, but Brent Machado answered at 11:41. Then NTAC scored again for the 5-3 lead.

Matt Borlik and Desi Richelsen each scored early in the third to tie the game, but NTAC went ahead for good at 9:36. With less than two minutes remaining, on a power play and the puck in the offensive zone, the Squirrels pulled goaltender Drew Thiemann but NTAC took advantage, scored a shorthanded goal, then twice more in the next 40 seconds.

Wautel, Bronson, Machado, Thiemann, Richelsen, Borlik, Ben Sumner, Dan Carter, Chris Long, Paul Kobernick, Brian Jackson, Jon Magi and Rob Myers played for the Squirrels, who were outshot 34-15.

The next game is Jan. 24 against Syracuse at 10 p.m.