Box Score FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.— Colton Nikiforuk scored on a tip-in goal with 9 minutes and 46 seconds left in the third period to lift visiting Indiana Tech to a 3-2 victory over Lawrence Tech in Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference men's hockey action at Farmington Hills Ice Arena on Friday evening. It was a matchup of nationally-ranked teams in the latest American Collegiate Hockey Association Top-25 as the Warriors (8-2 overall, 5-0 WHAC) came in No. 12 and the Blue Devils (4-5, 4-3) at No. 24.

These same teams conclude their two-game weekend set on Saturday (2:30 p.m.) when the series shifts to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The go-ahead tally came after an offensive zone face-off for Indiana Tech. The Blue Devils gained control of the puck behind their goal, but the clearing attempt was intercepted long the left wing boards by Aiden Dufort, who sent a pass to Nikiforuk cutting to the top of the crease where he deflected his shot past the goalie while breaking his stick in the same motion.

Lawrence Tech pulled Brett Tome (31 saves) with about a minute to play in regulation in favor of an extra attacker, but couldn't get the equalizer to send it to overtime.

The Warriors led 2-1 after one period. At the 15:53 mark, Dufort found Pavel Svoboda who buried a shot past Tome who appeared to be screened. Sean Pilet tied it 1-1 3:07 later for LTU on assists from Justin Hubenschmidt and David Hoftiezer. But the Warriors went back on top as Malik Ali took a feed from Avery Smith in their defensive end and skated along the right wing to rip a shot from the right face-off dot at 204.

The Blue Devils tied it again 2-2 at the 13:31 mark of the second period. Charlie Ward got the goal and Drake Barnish the assist.

Warriors goaltender Braedyn Funke made 16 saves for the victory.