Box score
KALAMAZOO, Mich -- Junior forward Jeff LoVecchio scored two goals and two assists while junior right-winger Patrick Galivan added his Central Collegiate Hockey Association leading 12th assist as Western Michigan men's hockey team downed the Ohio State Buckeyes, 4-2, in front of 2,303 fans at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.
Galivan and LoVecchio would hook up twice on the night, including the game-winning goal for the Broncos (4-7-0, 2-5-0 CCHA) with 4:06 remaining in the third period. Galivan passed the puck through traffic and the neutral zone and LoVecchio sprung himself free from the Ohio State (2-10-1, 0-7-0 CCHA) defender for a one-on-one against goalie Joseph Palmer. LoVecchio beat Palmer on his glove side for his fourth goal of the season and Galivan picked up his 12th assist on the season and team-leading 14th point.
"I think it was a real solid team effort," said head coach Jim Culhane. "I thought both teams palyed extremely hard. I thought it was Riley's best game of the season and I thought LoVecchio, the junior captain, he had a night to remember."
The two connected on a goal with 3:42 remaining in the second period, when LoVecchio centered to a charging Galivan who beat Palmer on his stick side and put the Broncos up 2-0. The goal was the second on the year for Galivan and LoVecchio added his fifth assist of the season. Freshman center Max Campbell picked up his sixth assist of the season on the goal.
LoVecchio had a hand in every goal in the game for the Broncos, earning an assist on the first goal of the night. LoVecchio found Mike Lesperance charging on the left wing and Lesperance beat Palmer on his stick side. Lesperance picked up his second goal on the year and Nathan Ansell also assisted on the goal, his first of the season. LoVecchio would also add an empty-net goal with 18-seconds remaining in the game, his fifth of the year, with junior winger Matt Clackson earning his second assist of the season.
Ohio State reduced the Bronco lead to 2-1 on a power play with eight-seconds remaining in the second period. Defenseman Jason DeSantis shot the puck on goal but Gill made the save. Gill could not control the rebound and it was put in by Tommy Goebel.
The Buckeyes would tie the game at 2 early in the third period when John Albert took a pass from DeSantis and found himself right in front of Gill. Gill made the stop on the first shot but Albert scored off the rebound. Goebel also picked up an assist on the game-tying goal.
Gill (4-5-0) made 10 of his 24 saves in the third period and was awarded the Perani Cup No. 3 Star of the Game. LoVecchio's four points were a career high and earned him the No. 1 Star of the Game while Galivan picked up the No. 2 star.
The Broncos will host the Buckeyes again on tomorrow night at 7:35 p.m. at Lawson Arena.
