KALAMAZOO, MI –

Colton Hargrove had a big grin as he talked after Western Michigan University’s historic win Saturday.

The freshman scored two goals in the Broncos' 5-1 win over Michigan and he tallied a total of three on the weekend as WMU completed its first sweep of the Wolverines since 1986.

Western Michigan, which defeated Michigan 3-2 on Friday, hosted the Wolverines in a two-game series at Lawson Arena for the first time ever this weekend, which makes the sweep the first for WMU in Kalamazoo. The sweep in 1986 was a home-and-home matchup.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Hargrove said of playing a big role in sweeping Michigan. “It’s the first time that we’ve swept them since 1986. It’s an awesome feeling. Coach (Rob) Facca came in afterwards pretty pumped up. I know the seniors are excited. It’s a great feeling and I’m happy for them. It’s just awesome.”

In front of a season-high 4,287 fans at Lawson Arena, Michigan got out to a 1-0 lead when Andrew Copp scored on a U-M power play with 4:26 left in the first period, but it was all WMU from there.

The Broncos (16-6-4), who remain in first place in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings with a 12-4-2 mark, got on the scoreboard when Shane Berschbach re-directed a Matt Stewart shot from the blue line 4:08 into the second period and Michigan goalie Adam Janecyk was unable to track it.

Berschbach, who admitted he and his linemates Dane Walters and Chase Balisy were not as good as they needed to be Friday, said the sweep left the team with a good feeling on several levels.

Shane Berschbach

“It’s huge,” Berschbach said. “It’s definitely awesome for our school and our hockey program. The battle we had to bring both nights shows what this meant to us. Our guys really stuck with it, and did something big for our school.”

Just two-and-a-half minutes after Berschbach's goal Kenney Morrison lit the lamp with his signature rip on the power play to give WMU a 2-1 lead 6:40 into the middle period.

The prettiest goal of the game was scored by Hargrove.

After a U-M turnover, freshman linemate Josh Pitt brought the puck up the ice on a 2-on-1 odd-man rush and found Hargrove who got just enough of it to send it in to the leg pads of Janecyk, who deflected it back into play.

Hargrove, moving full speed towards the net, gathered the puck and wrapped it around Janecyk for the score to give WMU a 3-1 lead 16:44 into the second.

The Wolverines (8-16-2, 5-13-2 CCHA) recorded one shot on goal through the first 16 minutes of the second period and finished the middle frame with three shots.

WMU coach Andy Murray said he liked the way that the Broncos got off to a fast start, unlike Friday’s game.

He was especially pleased with the team’s effort in the second period.

“I think our puck possession was good,” Murray said. “We make good decisions and make it difficult for other teams to play offense against us. I’ve always said that we want to play the first 20 seconds of every shift in their zone so their too tired when they’re on offense. They’re a great team and I’m sure we’re going to face them down the road this season.”

WMU took a 26-12 shot advantage into the second intermission.

Pitt and Hargrove put the icing on the cake for Western Michigan in the third period.

Pitt, a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder who has been playing good hockey since the Michigan series in December, created a turnover in the Michigan zone and scored his second goal of the season 2:13 into the final frame.

Hargrove scored another goal in front of Janecyk 3:53 into the third when linemate Mike Cichy fed him a pass from behind net.

Andy Murray

Murray said getting some scoring from the younger players is important for the team’s continued success.

“We need those young guys stepping up because they’re no longer young guys,” Murray said. “They’ve been here for over twenty games now, and we expect them to be able to contribute and play hard. What I like about their game tonight is that they played smart.”

Cichy also assisted on Hargrove’s first goal and Pitt’s tally for a total of three in the game.

Hargrove said it’s nice having a guy with experience on his line.

“He’s played college hockey before,” Hargrove said of Cichy, a North Dakota transfer. “He’s physical and sees the ice well. He can find me and Josh whenever we’re open.”

Janecyk was pulled after Hargrove’s second goal and replaced by Jared Rutledge. Janecyk finished with 26 saves. Rutledge made two stops in relief.

WMU goalie Frank Slubowski stood tall at times, but got plenty of help in front of him from the Brown and Gold defense and the offense, which did a nice job of possessing the puck, especially in the second.

Slubowski finished with 20 saves.

Michigan was 1-for-4 on the power play, while WMU was 1-for-5.

WMU finished with a 33-21 advantage in shots.

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Email David Drew at ddrew1@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Drew_on_WMU