Portage Northern 2 Mattawan 1

Outstanding game tonight at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo. Mattawan Wildcats started out with a very high level of intensity, but Northern's goalie, Barry Toornman was equal to the task. He calmed things down for the Huskies who would defeat Mattawan, 2-1.

Nicco Braganini scored his first goal of the evening at 5:37 mark of the 1st period. His linemate, Kevin Campbell skated the puck wide into their offensive zone and fired a shot at Mattawan's Derek Straub. Braganini tipped the shot as he went hard to the net and the Huskies had the lead. Late in the 1st period, Northern had 2 players in the box and Mattawan needing a goal. Wildcat captain, Nate McCorry found Matt Latora with a long pass up the middle and Latora beat Toornman through the 5 hole.

Braganini capped off a brilliant week of hockey (9 points in his last 3 games) when he found the net again early in the 3rd period. Once again, Kevin Campbell assisted on the goal. Mattawan threw everything they had at Northern in the 3rd period, but couldn't get anything past Toornman who has allowed only 3 goals in his last 3 games.