Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Riley Gill made 30 saves and freshman Kyle O'Kane netted the game-winning goal early in the second period as the Western Michigan hockey team defeated Lake Superior State, 3-1, to advance to the second round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Playoffs on Sunday evening at Lawson Ice Arena.

The Broncos took a 1-0 lead at the 13:10 mark of the first period. WMU was cycling the puck on the power play and Tyler Ludwig skated in to the slot, backhanding it past LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis. Patrick Galivan and Greg Squires each tallied assists on the goal.

Lake Superior State answered just over four minutes later on a power play of their own. During a four-on-three advantage Nathan Perkovich fired a puck from the left circle and past WMU goaltender Riley Gill for his fourth goal of the series. Troy Schwab and Simon Gysbers each picked up assists as the two teams skated into the locker room deadlocked at 1-1.

Western Michigan opened the game up in the second period, netting a goal 3:42 in. O'Kane intercepted a pass from Perkovich in the LSSU zone and skated into the Slot, beating Inglis high on his stick side. The unassisted game-winning goal was the ninth of the season for the freshman and his third point of the series.

Fellow freshman J.J. Crew pushed the Broncos ahead 3-1, netting a goal with 14 seconds remaining in the period. Chris Frank passed the puck to Galivan from the Bronco zone and Galivan played the give-and-go with Crew. Crew ended up with the puck just right of the slot and beat Inglis for his sixth goal of the season and second goal of the playoffs. The goal was also Crew's fourth point of the series and that is all the Broncos would need.

Gill made 11 of his 29 saves in the third period and Western Michigan killed off two power plays to seal the victory.

Western Michigan will head to Ann Arbor, Mich., to battle the Wolverines on Friday at 7:35 p.m., Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and Sunday, with the time to be announced,  if necessary.