Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Ohio State
Ohio State Drops Falcons With :27 Seconds Remaining In the Game
October 27, 2001 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 27, 2001
Bowling Green, Ohio - Ohio State stunned Bowling Green on Saturday at the BGSU Ice Arena with a game-winning goal with just :27 seconds remaining by JB Bittner to escape with a 4-3 victory in front of 3,209 in attendance.
Bowling Green pulled goalie Tyler Masters with just over a minute to play and sophomore Brian Escobedo scored just outside the crease at 19:12 to knot the score at 3-3. BGSU had trailed since the 16:50 mark of the second period. Greg Day and D'Arcy McConvey assisted on the goal.
However, OSU didn't rest as Bittner responded with a goal just 21 seconds later for the game winner.
The two teams traded goals the entire game, beginning with a goal by OSU's Scott May at 5:44 of the first period. BGSU's Austin de Luis then tied the score, 1-1, with his first goal of the season off of an assist by Ryan Wetterberg and Escobedo at 7:28.
Ohio State regained the lead early in the second period when Mike McCormick scored a power play goal at 2:19 to go up 2-1.
Freshman Ryan Minnabarriet scored his team-leading third goal of the season at 11:36 of the second period to again knot the score, this time at 2-2. Fellow frosh Colen Pappas assisted on the goal.
Before the second period ended, though, the Buckeyes (2-1-1 overall and in the CCHA) took the lead back with a goal by Yan Des Gagne at 16:50, setting the stage for an exciting finish in the third period.
After the final horn sounded both benches cleared onto the ice with several players earning penalties, six from each team. BGSU's Pappas and Mark Wires were assessed disqualifications while OSU's Bittner and Dave Steckel were disqualified for fighting, as well. Ohio State's T.J. Latorre left the game with a game misconduct at 14:22 of the first period. In all, OSU had 25 penalties for 83 minutes while Bowling Green had 23 penaltes for 68 minutes.
BGSU (1-3-2 overall, 1-2-1 in CCHA) outshot Ohio State 31-25, the first time this season that the Falcons outshot an opponent. However, Bowling Green was 0-for-7 on power plays while Ohio State was 1-for-5.
OSU's Mike Betz led both goalies with 28 saves and Tyler Masters had 21 stops for BGSU.
Bowling Green returns to the road this week to face Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., on Thursday and Friday (Nov. 1 and 2). Thursday's faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 and Friday's faceoff is set for 6:35 p.m.
