Box Score
EAST LANSING, Mich. ? Western Michigan snapped a four-game losing skid by skating to a 3-3 overtime tie against 13th-ranked Michigan State in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action from Munn Ice Arena.
Brent Walton's snap shot over the shoulder of goaltender Jeff Lerg with 4:09 left in regulation tied the contest at 3-3. The unassisted goal occurred on a 3-on-1 rush.
WMU (2-6-1/2-4-1 CCHA) scored in the opening minute when Paul Szczechura hit Jeff Pierce with a 30-foot pass that allowed Pierce to get behind the defense and break in alone on Lerg. Pierce went top shelf on a wrister for his fourth goal of the season.
The Broncos went up 2-0 at the 7:48 mark of the first period on Mike Erickson's deflection of a Brent Walton shot on the top circle. The goal ended an 0-for-18 drought on the power play.
MSU (5-4-3/2-3-3) answered with three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead after two periods. Second-year center Chris Mueller scored back-to-back goals, the first with 3:38 left in the first period followed by another just 19 seconds into the second period. Mueller's second tally was placed perfectly over the shoulder of goaltender Daniel Bellissimo. Mueller then assisted on Colton Fretter's tally at 16:20 of the second period.
Bellissimo kept the Broncos in the game, stopping several breakaways and finishing with 28 saves.
“We played hard tonight and earned a well deserved point,” said WMU coach Jim Culhane. “I thought Dan played great tonight, making big saves at crucial times.”
The series continues tomorrow night at Lawson Arena (7:35 p.m. faceoff).
