Box score
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Despite overcoming a four-goal deficit with four unanswered goals in the third period to force overtime, Western Michigan's hockey team fell to host Bowling Green 5-4 at BGSU Ice Arena in Central Collegiate Hockey Association action tonight. It was the second night in a row that WMU (2-4-0, 0-2-0 CCHA) lost in the extra session to the Falcons (3-2-0, 2-1-0 CCHA).
Western Michigan registered two power-play goals--one while five-on-three--in the first 1:32 of the final frame to spark the comeback and drew within one at 7:35. With just 10 seconds left on the clock, the Broncos tied the game with the extra attacker on the ice.
“I think the five-on-three situations are really important,” head coach Jim Culhane said. “You have time to talk some things over in between periods and set some things up. We had fresh ice and I think that was the key to get us going to get it 4-1. Then we were fortunate to get the next one to make it 4-2 and went from there.”
James Perkin gave Bowling Green a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 13:07 of the first period with help from Mike Nesdill and Tim Maxwell while the Broncos were killing a major penalty. Before the close of the period the Falcons would extend their lead to 2-0 with a goal by Kevin Schmidt. Jacob Cepis and Dan Sexton helped set up Schmidt's first marker of the season.
Bowling Green struck once again with the man advantage in the second period when John Mazzei scored his first of the year with help from Derek Whtmore and Cepis at 9:28 to raise the score to 3-0 Falcons. Cepis tallied his third point of the night with a power-play goal of his own at 12:11. Mazzei and Schmidt set up the play. Although the Falcons held the 4-0 lead at second intermission, they took two penalties late in the period, giving the Broncos a five-on-three situation for 1:26, part of which carried over to the third period.
Sophomore Tyler Ludwig put Western Michigan on the board at :22 of the third period, firing a bullet from the point past BG netminder Jimmy Spratt for the five-on-three power-play goal. Freshman Max Campbell and junior Jeff LoVecchio set up Ludwig's first goal of the season.
Once again the Falcons would take a penalty to give WMU the two-man advantage, this time for 26 seconds. WMU converted just after the first penalty had expired when Jeff Pierce scored at 1:32 to draw within two 4-2. Pierce's goal was on a tic-tac-toe play, as Campbell passed from the blueline to junior Patrick Galivan on the goal line, who then centered to Pierce in the slot. Pierce's one timer found the back of the net for his second goal of the season.
Senior Jonathan Lupa netted his first career goal at 7:35 to to pull WMU within one 4-3. Sophomore Chris Clackson and freshman Adam Flink assisted on the play, as Lupa rifled a shot from the point that hit the crossbar on its way in. The goal was also noteworthy for Flink, as the assist was his first collegiate point.
It would remain a 4-3 game until the final minute of play when the Broncos pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker. The strategy worked, as LoVecchio scored his third goal of the year, batting the puck out of the air and into the top right corner of the net on a scramble in front to tie the game 4-4 with just 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Galivan and Ludwig garnered the assists.
Bowling Green would go on to score its second overtime goal in as many nights, however, as Todd McIlrath intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, skated over the blue line and passed to an open Schmidt on the left wing. Schmidt buried his wrister at 3:45 of the extra session to seal the weekend sweep for the Falcons.
Sophomore Riley Gill earned the start for WMU, making 20 saves while giving up four goals in 32:11. He was relieved by freshman Jerry Kuhn, who stopped 19 shots and gave up one goal in 30:39. Spratt played all 63:15 for the Falcons, making 18 saves whilst surrendering four goals in the win.
Western Michigan returns to action next Friday, traveling to Marquette for a two-game set against CCHA foe Northern Michigan.
