Western Michigan rallied from a 3-1 deficit and scored the final five goals of the game in a 6-3 victory over Colorado College Friday night at the Broadmoor World Arena.
 
Drew Worrad scored twice and added an assist, while Josh Passolt and Paul Washe each had a goal and two assists as the Broncos won the NCHC opener for each team.
 
After a scoreless first period, the Tigers (2-3, 0-1 NCHC) took a 1-0 lead on Nick Halloran's first goal of the season just 1:29 into the middle frame. Following a point-blank save by Tiger goalie Ryan Ruck, Chris Wilkie found Bailey Conger, who hit Halloran in stride and he put a backhander past WMU goalie Brandon Bussi.
 
The Tigers expanded their lead just 34 seconds later when Zach Berzolla scored his first goal of the season and second of his career with a blast from the slot. He took a centering pass from Andrew Gaus, who recorded his first assist as a Tiger.  
 
Less than two minutes later, after the Tigers were called for too many men on the ice, WMU cut the lead in half as Worrad took a cross-ice pass from Passolt and scored from the left circle.  
 
During four-on-four play halfway through the second, Wilkie deflected a pass into the neutral zone and scored on a clean breakaway over Bussi's left shoulder to give the Tigers their two-goal lead back.
 
After Jason Polin scored at the 17:43 mark of the second period to cut the Tiger lead back to one, Wilkie found himself all alone against Bussi with 1:50 left in the frame, but this time his shot sailed wide.
 
The Broncos (3-3-1, 1-0 NCHC) evened the score five minutes into the third period when Dawson DiPietro took a shot that ricocheted off the back board right back to him and he put the rebound past Ruck. Washe scored the game winner less than two minutes later with a shot from the slot and Worrad scored his second of the game at the 13:20 mark.
 
Matt Vernon relieved Ruck with 4:48 remaining in the third and Passolt closed out the scoring with 2:22 remaining in the game.
 
What Head Coach Mike Haviland Said
 "I think the late goal in the second really gave them the momentum. I mean, it's a goal that should not go in, and we're standing next to the guy."
 
"We just got outworked in front of the net on two of them. For me, that can't happen."
 
Three Stars of the Game
1. Drew Worrad, Western Michigan (2g,1a)
2. Josh Passolt, Western Michigan (1g,2a)
3. Paul Washe, Western Michigan (1g,2a; GWG)
 
Colorado College Notes
Wilkie led all players with seven shots for the second consecutive game
Both of Berzolla's career goals have come against Western Michigan
Berzolla and Bryan Yoon led the Tigers with three blocked shots
Ruck had 27 saves
CC was 0-for-4 on the power play
 
Western Michigan Notes
Passolt and Washe led the Broncos with five shots apiece
Kale Bennett led all players with six blocked shots
The Broncos held a 35-34 advantage in shots
Bussi finished with 31 saves
Western Michigan was 2-for-5 on the power play
 
Up Next
Colorado College and Western Michigan meet again on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 6 p.m., at the Broadmoor World Arena.