No. 19 Colorado College hockey entered the weekend down a pair of defensemen in junior captain Max Burkholder and sophomore Philipe Blais-Savoie. So naturally, a defenseman made the game-winning play. 

Tigers sophomore blueliner Ryan Koering scored at 3:09 of overtime to give CC a 2-1 win at Northern Michigan on Friday night. Koering’s goal completed a comeback for the Tigers, who were down a goal entering the third period.

CC (4-1) ran into an inspired effort by Wildcats freshman goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton who finished in 43 saves in the contest and had 28 saves through the first two periods. Still searching for the first win of the season, Northern Michigan (0-5) capitalized on their rookie netminder’s good play with a goal from forward Medrick Bolduc at 11:15 of the opening period.

Tigers junior center Klavs Veinbergs netted the equalizer for CC at 10:35 of the third . Koering found Veinbergs who skated to the top of the right circle and beat Auyeung-Ashton with a wrist shot.

The Latvian junior repaid Koering in overtime, earning the assist on the game-winner alongside CC senior goalie Kaidan Mbereko. Koering took the puck coast to coast, put a shot on goal, and recovered his own rebound for the putback. 

Mbereko finished with 16 saves as the Tigers outshot the Wildcats 45-17.

CC and Northern MIchigan conclude the series on Saturday. Puck drop is at 4 p.m.