CANTON, N.Y. -- After twice surrendering a lead, the Western Michigan hockey team fought back and tied St. Lawrence, 3-3, at Appleton Arena on Saturday night to improve to 4-1-1 on the season.
St. Lawrence pressured the Broncos from the opening faceoff but it was the Brown & Gold that struck first but not until the 16:28 mark in the first period. SLU cleared the puck during a Bronco power play but
Greg Squires passed the puck to
Max Campbell and it created a two-on-one advantage down the ice. Instead of passing it, Campbell slotted the puck home for his third goal of the season to give WMU the 1-0 lead.
The Saints tied the game just 2:10 into the second period. Greg Carey fired a shot from the right circle with a SLU forward in front of the net to screen WMU goalie
Nick Pisellini. The puck went through the screen and off the pipe and into the net for his first goal of the season.
Western Michigan responded at the 5:38 mark when
Derek Roehl created a turnover in the St. Lawrence end. He poked it to
Ryan Watson and skated in all alone on Saints' goalie Matt Weninger and put it between his legs for Watson's second on the season. The Watson's goal gave WMU its second lead of the game but it didn't last as the Saints squared the game 2-2 at the 9:19 mark.
Pisellini made a save on a shot by Aaron Bogosian but the puck sprang loose and WMU was unable to cover it before Carey poked it in for his second of the night.
A few minutes later Carey completed the hat-trick to give SLU a 3-2 lead, its first lead of the series. The Broncos were out of position after clearing the puck on a Saints' power play and Matt Raley found Carey with a clear lane to the net and the freshman forward put it past Pisellini.
The Broncos rebounded in the third period, scoring their second power play goal of the game at the 12:00 mark. Roehl got the puck to Campbell in the right circle. Campbell passed it to Squires at the point and he fired a laser over Weninger's stick side shoulder to tie the game 3-3.
Neither team was able to take advantage during the extra five minutes despite power play advantages for both teams.
Western Michigan heads to Notre Dame on Friday before hosting the Irish on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. for their CCHA home opener.
