Bowling Green State University Athletics
Hockey Continues Road Trip At Princeton
January 02, 2001 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 2, 2001
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Bowling Green (4-10-4, 3-7-4 CCHA) at Princeton (5-7-3, 4-4-2 ECAC)
7:00 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 5-6Series Records: BGSU leads 5-0-0
Last Meeting: at BGSU 5-2, 5-2/Dec. 11-12, 1987
Friday Radio: WBVI-FM (96.7)
Saturday Radio: WBGU-FM (88.1)
SERIES HISTORY
Bowling Green has won all five previous meetings against the Tigers of Princeton. The Falcons won the initial meeting (6-4) on Dec. 20, 1971, in the first round of the Cleveland Festival. BG won twice at Princeton on Dec. 12-13, 1986 (7-4, 5-2). The Falcons were victorious in both contests in BG (5-2, 5-2) on Dec. 11-12, 1987. BG head coach Buddy Powers has recorded a 4-5-1 coaching mark against Princeton (while Powers was at RPI). He has a 2-3 record at PU's Hobey Baker Arena.
PREVIEWING PRINCETON
The Tigers lost twice this past Friday and Saturday in the Bank One Badger Showdown in Milwaukee. Wisconsin defeated Princeton 6-3 on Friday, while North Dakota upended the Tigers 5-4 on Saturday extending Princeton's losing streak to four games.
Princeton is led in scoring by senior forward Kirk Lamb (5-14--19, 3 PPG), senior forward Chris Corrinet (9-7--16, 3 PPG), junior forward Brad Parsons (7-7--14, 3 PPG) and senior forward Shane Campbell (7-3--10). Sophomore defenseman Neil McCann leads the PU blueliners in scoring with nine points on two goals and seven assists.
First-year head coach Len Quesnelle has used junior Dave Stathos (3-6-2, 3.56, .886) and sophomore Nate Nomeland (2-1-1, 2.55, .934) between the pipes. PU's power play has scored on 13 of 62 opportunities (21.0%), while the penalty killing has stopped 59 of its opponents 74 chances (79.7%).
REVIEWING MERCYHURST AND NIAGARA
Bowling Green began its post-holiday schedule with mixed results. The Falcons posted a 3-1 triumph at Mercyhurst on Thursday before falling at Niagara, 7-2, on Saturday.
In Thursday's victory, Falcon senior left wing Ryan Murphy broke a scoreless tie at the 9:53 mark of the opening period putting in a rebound past Laker goalie Peter Aubry. D'Arcy McConvey and Scott Hewson assisted on Murphy's seventh of the campaign.
MC tied the game at one with 1:25 left in the first period as Adam Tackaberry converted on a two-on-one to beat Falcon netminder Tyler Masters. Jeff Gould and Peter Rynshoven assisted on Tackaberry's seventh of the year.
After a scoreless second period, BG junior center Greg Day tallied his 12th of the season from Hewson just as a penalty to Falcon Brian Escobedo was expiring at the 6:41 mark of the third period.
Murphy completed the scoring with his second of the game with 3:49 left in the contest. It was Murphy's first two-goal game since Oct. 29, 1999. Day and Hewson assisted on Murphy's power-play tally which came just four seconds into a cross-checking penalty on MC's Marty Rychley.
Hewson garnered assists on all three Falcon lamp-lighters for his second three-point game of the year and first three-assist contest in his collegiate career.
Tyler Masters made 20 saves in the BG cage, while Peter Aubry turned aside 24 BG shots.
On Saturday, Bowling Green suffered a 7-2 setback at Niagara University.
The Purple Eagles led 2-0 after one on goals by Hannu Karru and Rob Bumbaco.
The Falcons cut the lead in half when Greg Day scored at 5:22 of the middle period. Day's 13th of the campaign was assisted by Austin de Luis and Kevin Bieksa.
NU scored three times in a span of 4:49 midway through the middle stanza to chase BG starting goalie Shawn Timm (10 saves on 15 shots).
Ryan Murphy scored in the third period sandwiched around two Niagara goals. Scott Hewson and Phil Barski (first collegiate point) assisted on Murphy's sixth goal in the last six games.
Tyler Masters made 12 saves in relief of Timm, while NU's Rob Bonk turned aside 22 Falcon shots. BG was one-for-eight with the man-advantage, while the Purple Eagles scored on three of their eight power play chances.
THE LAST TIME
BG won twice at home against Princeton (Dec. 11-12, 1987) by identical 5-2 scores.
In the first game, the Falcons received goals from Braden Shavchook, Scott Paluch, Nelson Emerson, Marc Potvin and Andy Gribble to back the 26 saves by John Burke.
The next night Joe Quinn scored twice with Matt Ruchty, Don Barber and Geoff Williams each lighting the lamp. Paul Connell made 26 saves in the Falcon net.
FALCON TIDBITS
BG is in the midst of its second six-game road trip this season. The Falcons went 1-3-2 during November's six-game swing with all three losses coming by one goal. BG is 1-1 on this road trip with upcoming series at Princeton (Jan. 5-6) and Nebraska Omaha (Jan. 12-13).
Junior right wing Scott Hewson set a career-high with three assists at Mercyhurst and the three points also equalled a personal-best set Nov. 18 at Ohio State (2-1--3). Hewson assisted on BG's second goal on Saturday increasing his total to seven points in the last four games on one goal and six assists.
Senior left wing Ryan Murphy tied a career-high with his two goals at Mercyhurst. It was his third two-goal game as a Falcon. His third period goal at Niagara extended his goal-scoring streak to four games and giving him six goals in the last six contests.
After scoring the first goal once in the first 10 games, BG has taken the early lead in five of the last eight contests. The Falcons are 3-1-2 when scoring first.
Junior center Greg Day had a goal and an assist at MC for his fifth multiple-point game of the year. He has four goals and one assist for five points in the last three games. Freshman center D'Arcy McConvey had a three-game assist streak snapped at Niagara.
Freshman forward Phil Barski recorded his first collegiate point, an assist, on Ryan Murphy's third period goal at Niagara.
Only six players have seen action in all 18 contests this year with BG's losing 29 man-games to injuries.
BG's power-play goal at Mercyhurst was only the fourth allowed this season by the Lakers. MC entered the contest first in the nation in penalty killing at 95.1% (58 of 61). Laker goalie Peter Aubry was leading the country in save percentage (.947) prior to the BG game.
The Falcon defense tied a season-best by allowing the Lakers only 21 shots on goal in Thursday's victory.
When BG stopped all six Mercyhurst power-play opportunities it marked the third time this season BG had blanked an opponents power play in a game.
The three power-play goals allowed by the Falcons at Niagara were the most in a game this season. BG had allowed two man-advantage markers in the same game just three times this year.
Bowling Green is averaging 25.33 shots on goal per game, while allowing 32.67 shots per contest.
The Falcons have outscored their opponents 18-16 in the third period this season.
Senior defenseman Louis Mass leads the squad in plus/minus rating (+4), while junior blueliner Joe Statkus is second at +3. Senior left wing Curtis Valentine leads all BG forwards at +2.
Twelve of BG's 18 games this year were against teams ranked in last week's USA Today/American Hockey Magazine top 15 (or also receiving votes). BG is 2-2-2 in the six games against the teams not receiving votes, and 2-8-2 in the 12 games against ranked opponents.
