ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Western Michigan dropped its series finale against St. Cloud State on Sunday night at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The Broncos fell by a final score of 5-1.
Matteo Costantini netted the Broncos' lone goal of the night, with
Dylan Wendt and
Chad Hillebrand picking up the assists.
FIRST PERIOD
Despite a flurry of shots to open the game from WMU, the Huskies were the first ones to get on the scoreboard, tallying a goal just over three minutes into the game. From there, the Broncos got a bunch of looks on SCSU netminder Isak Posch, but nothing found the back of the net as the game neared the midway point of the first frame.
Just over nine minutes into the period, St. Cloud State netted another goal to extend its lead to 2-0. A few minutes after that, the lead grew to 3-0. The Brown and Gold responded, however, with a Costantini goal not even 30 seconds later.
Wendt fed Costantini in the slot, and he ripped a shot by Posch to get WMU back within two. The Broncos closed the period with looks from
Alex Bump,
Cedric Fiedler and
Daniel Hilsendager, but SCSU carried a 3-1 lead into the second frame.
SECOND PERIOD
The Broncos picked up a slashing penalty early in the middle frame, and SCSU was able to cash in and make it 4-1. Following that, Bump,
Carter Berger and
Sam Colangelo each had good looks on net, but nothing would get by Posch.
Later in the period, WMU got its first power play of the night. Posch was just able to get a piece of a Colangelo one-timer to keep the score 4-1. A few minutes later, Colangelo had another chance ring off the crossbar.
SCSU would go on to add another goal late in the period, taking a 5-1 lead into the final 20 minutes.
THIRD PERIOD
Western Michigan got a power play in the opening minutes, thanks to a cross checking penalty on the Huskies. Colangelo had a great chance saved by Posch, and SCSU eventually returned to full strength.
As the game moved to the back half of the third period, St. Cloud State would get a power play of its own. However, the Broncos would outshoot the Huskies during that stretch.
Down the stretch, WMU killed off two penalties, but SCSU went on to secure a 5-1 victory.
UP NEXT
Western Michigan will wait to see if it makes the NCAA Tournament. The bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 24. A national tournament berth would mark the third consecutive appearance for the Broncos.
