KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Justin Kovacs had a career-best three points and
Frank Slubowski made 29 saves as Western Michigan completed the sweep of Colorado College after a 5-1 win in front of 3,284 fans at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
Along with Kovacs,
Shane Berschbach also had a three-point night with three assists.
Dennis Brown,
Chase Balisy,
Josh Pitt,
Colton Hargrove and Kovacs all lit the lamp. Balisy and Hargrove each added assists for two-point games of their own. The Bronco penalty kill was solid once again as they held the Tigers scoreless on four power plays on the night.
Western Michigan (3-2-1, 2-0-0 NCHC) jumped out to a 1-0 lead at 13:15 in the first period when Brown fired a wrist shot from the deep slot that was deflected off of a CC defenseman for his second of the season. Berschbach and Kovacs each tallied assists on the goal.
Early in the second period the Broncos created a turnover in the Tiger zone and Balisy fired a shot that hit Colorado College goalie Josh Thorimbert in the chest and bounced over his shoulder and into the net. The goal was Balisy's first of the season with
Nolan LaPorte and Hargrove each earning assists as WMU extended the lead to 2-0.
Just minutes later at 4:57 Kovacs found Pitt in the left circle and the sophomore centerman wristed a shot past Thorimbert and into the net to give the Broncos a 3-0 lead. The assist was Kovacs' second on the night and fifth on the season, while Berschbach also picked up his second helper.
The Tigers pulled one back after a shot by Sam Rothstein was blocked and bounced awkwardly off the wall and into the slot. It then went off of Scott Wamsganz and off a Bronco defender's leg and past Slubowski to cut the lead to 3-1.
Just 21 seconds later Kovacs skated down the right side of the ice and into the circle, firing a shot over the shoulder of Thorimbert for his second goal of the weekend.
Western Michigan pushed the lead to 5-1 just 1:17 into the third period when Hargrove fired a rocket past Thorimbert's glove-side for his third goal of the season. Balisy tallied his fourth assist of the year on the goal and
Jordan Oesterle also picked up a helper on the game's final goal.
The Broncos resume non-conference play next Saturday and Sunday when they host Northern Michigan. Saturday's game is set for 7 p.m., while Sunday's will have a 5 p.m. puck drop.
