Box score

KALAMAZOO, Mich-- Four Broncos had two-point games as the Western Michigan men's hockey team beat Wayne State, 5-2, in front of 2,020 fans at Lawson Ice Arena Friday night.

Brian Bicek, Patrick Galivan and Tyler Ludwig, each scored a goal and added an assist, while Mike Lesperance had two assists for the Broncos (5-10-0, 2-8-0 CCHA). Freshman goaltender Jerry Kuhn stopped 24 shots earning his first career victory in his first collegiate start at Lawson.

"I thought it was a real solid effort, a complete effort through 60 minutes. I think we sustained it throughout the hockey game and we got scoring from a lot of areas. It was nice to see Jerry get his first career win," head coach Jim Culhane said.

WMU outshot Wayne State (3-10-2, 1-3-0 CHA) 12-2 in the first period, but were held scoreless. The Broncos best scoring chance came on a breakaway attempt by junior captain Jeff LoVecchio, but he was stopped by WSU goaltender Brett Bothwell.

Western Michigan struck first 5:02 into the second period when Bicek skated in on net and fired a shot that was stopped by Bothwell. Junior right winger Matt Clackson slid the rebound between Bothwell's legs and put the Broncos up, 1-0. The goal was the second on the year for Clackson. Bicek picked up his third assist on the season and Lesperance added his second helper on the year.

Less than two minutes later WMU added another goal when Galivan snuck the puck past Bothwell on his glove side for his third goal of the season to put Broncos up 2-0. Freshman center Max Campbell picked up his seventh assist on the season and Cam Watson also earned his second assist.

Wayne State would answer with a power-play goal at 11:08. Tylor Michel beat Kuhn top shelf on his stick side on a pass from Tyler Ruel. Matt Krug also added an assist, bringing the Warriors within one 2-1.

One minute later Wayne State would tie the game when Stavros Paskaris scored on a broken play on a pass from Jon Grabarek.

The Broncos regained the lead on the power play when Ludwig fired a slap shot from the point that hit the cross bar and dropped in behind Bothwell. The game-winner was the second goal of the season for Ludwig and Galivan picked up his team-leading 13th assist on the goal. Jeff Pierce also added his third helper of the season, giving the Broncos the lead, 3-2.

Bicek added his third goal of the season just 6:24 into the third period when he took a pass from Ludwig and skated coast-to-coast, breaking in on Bothwell and beating him between his legs with back-hander. The goal put the Broncos up 4-2 and was the third of the season for Bicek, with Ludwig picking up his seventh assist.

Sophomore center Chris Clackson added an empty netter with 51 seconds remaining in the game on a pass from Lesperance to seal the 5-2 victory for the Broncos.

Bothwell made 33 saves for the Warriors, who were 1-7 on the power play, while Western Michigan converted one of five opportunities.

Western Michigan looks for the sweep when it squares off against the Warriors once again at Lawson Arena. Faceoff is slated for 7:35 p.m.