Kent State closed out last weekend with a 2-1 shootout win over Michigan-Dearborn after being blanked 6-0 by the Wolves on Friday.

“We had a little bit more intensity [Saturday],” head coach Jarret Whidden said. “We were puck hungry. I’m not sure we skated any better, but we skated with purpose.”

Forward Matt Grandinetti scored just 30 seconds into the first period on Saturday to put the Flashes on the board. That goal remained unanswered until late in the second period, when Dearborn tied the game. Prior to the tie, questionable officiating disallowed two Kent State goals.

“The first one, [the referee] said the net came off,” Whidden said. “The second one he said that the puck didn’t initially go in, and then the momentum of my player carried the goalie into the net.”

After a scoreless third period and overtime, the game moved into a shootout. Goalie Ryan Gregory’s solid net presence didn’t allow any of Dearborn’s three shooters to score in the shootout, while forward Dave Bruder’s shot gave Kent State the win.

“I was trying to look low blocker to see if it was open,” Bruder said. “But as soon as I looked low blocker, he moved his glove a little bit, and I just went high glove.”

Whidden said it would have been nice to win in regulation, rather than in a shootout.

“I think we outplayed them,” Whidden said. “We had some unlucky breaks.”

On Friday, both teams played good hockey until the third period, when Dearborn scored all six goals. The first two came just 20 seconds apart early in the third. The Wolves continued to score throughout the rest of the period, including one empty-netter.

This weekend the Flashes will see familiar faces on the ice with Duquesne on Friday and Adrian on Saturday. Kent State played both teams two weeks ago with a 4-0 loss at Adrian and an 8-3 win at Duquesne.

“Adrian is a very physical team,” forward Logan Bannon said. “We need to come out hitting and score one early.”

While the Flashes beat Duquesne once this year, they still see the team as good competition.

“They’re underrated,” forward Ryan Chance said. “They can put the puck in the net if we give them the chance. We need to play solid on offense and defense.”

To prepare for the upcoming games, Whidden changed up practice this week. On Monday, the team played football outside to have fun and work on bonding. The next day it was back to the ice to work on lessons learned from last weekend.