Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- Paul Szczechura scored two goals and registered his 100th career point in leading Western Michigan to a 5-0 win over Bowling Green to force a split of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association series from the BGSU Ice Arena.  The Broncos recorded their largest margin of victory this season while also snapping a five-game losing streak.

Szczechura had one of two short-handed goals for the Broncos, the other came on Jeff LoVecchio's breakaway tally which occurred with WMU two skaters down.

The Broncos (7-11-1/6-8-1 CCHA) scored three times in the opening period then added two more in the middle frame.  Freshman Mark Letestu got into the act with his team-leading 11th goal.

Freshman goaltender Riley Gill made 37 saves and helped kill nine BG power play attempts to notch his second shutout of the season.

WMU played most of the game without forward Matt Clackson, who drew a game misconduct penalty for checking from behind just 11 seconds into the contest.  BG's Jeremy Bronson (check from behind) and WMU's Chris Frank (fighting) were ejected in the third period.  As a result, Frank will miss next Friday's contest against Miami at Lawson Arena.

"Our special teams did a great job tonight and Riley was composed and confident in goal," said WMU coach Jim Culhane, whose team eclipsed its road win total of a season ago. "I'm pleased with the way we bounced back from a tough loss last night."

WMU begins an eight-game homestand next weekend (Jan. 12-13), hosting the first-place Miami RedHawks.