Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. ? Western Michigan (16-15-1, 13-12-1 CCHA) earned its first win at Munn Ice Arena in over 13 years, defeating #5/6 Michigan State (18-11-3, 14-9-3 CCHA), 2-0, in front of 7,116 fans on Saturday night.

The Broncos, who secured home ice for the first round of the CCHA Tournament with their win on Friday coupled with an Alaska loss, captured the season series, 3-1, marking the first time WMU has ever defeated the Spartans three times in a campaign, as well as two times in a row. 

The last win, also a 2-0 shut out, came on Dec. 11, 1993.  MSU assistant coach Brian Renfrew and WMU assistant coach Chris Brooks were teammates the last time the Broncos defeated Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena.  Brooks was a sophomore center and Renfrew was a junior goalie, picking up the shut out victory.

Patrick Galivan, named Perani No. 1 Star, scored his second goal in as many nights to give Western Michigan a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.  Saturday's goal came on the power play, his second power-play tally of the year, and more dramatically, came with just 0:00.2 remaining on the clock in first period.

Michigan State's Daniel Vukovic had been called for tripping at the 1:34 mark and it had looked as though the Spartans were going to kill their third WMU power play of the opening frame when Jeff LoVecchio, from his knees, sent a shot off the post that found the stick of Galivan for the score.

The two teams played fairly even through the first period with WMU holding a 7-6 advantage in shots.  The Bronco defense was busy, blocking seven of MSU's 17 shot attempts before goalie Riley Gill had to make a play.  Gill ended the period with six saves.

The offense continued keep itself hidden for both teams during the second period.  Each squad had a pair of power-play opportunities but neither could capitalize.  Western Michigan again out shot its host, 9-7, and carried its one-goal lead into the final frame.  Brian Bicek and Mark Letestu led the Broncos in shots with four apiece at that point with defenseman Ryan Mahrle close behind with three shots. 

Western Michigan scored an even strength goal midway through the third period.  LoVecchio scored his 18th goal of the season to put WMU up 2-0 at the 10:57 mark when he scored on a rebound from a blocked Paul Szczechura shot.  Szczechura and Galivan were credited with assists.  LovVecchio earned No. 2 Star honors and Gill nabbed No. 3 Star honors.

Gill improved to 11-6-1 on the season, earning his sixth road victory and the fourth shut out of his rookie season.  It win now puts him second on the all-time list for shut outs in a season and he now shares second on the career list with Bill Horn (1985-89) and Jeff Reynaert (1998-2002).

Notes:

• MSU assistant coach Brian Renfrew and WMU assistant coach Chris Brooks were teammates the last time the Broncos defeated Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena.  Brooks was a sophomore center and Renfrew was a junior goalie, picking up the shut out victory.
• Western Michigan has never defeated the Spartans two meetings in a row.  The last time it happened was Oct. 20, 1979 (W, 8-6) and Jan. 8, 1982 (W, 3-2).  The two teams only faced each other once during those seasons and did not meet on the ice during the 1980-81 campaign.
• The last time Western Michigan won at Munn Ice Arena was Dec. 11, 1993 (W, 2-0).  It has been 13 years, two months and six days since the Broncos on MSU's home ice.  It breaks down to 4,802 days or 158 months, whichever way you want to look at it.
• The last time Western Michigan defeated a nationally ranked team in back-to-back games was Oct. 28-29 when the Broncos defeated #13 Ohio State, 5-1 and 5-4.
• With the win, Western Michigan goes over the .500 mark for the first time since December, 2004 (9-8-1).