Bowling Green State University
Miami
Falcon Hockey Beats Miami
March 08, 2001 | Ice Hockey
March 8, 2001
Oxford, Ohio - The Falcon hockey team was victorious over Miami University Thursday night by a 4-3 margin. With the win, Bowling Green gained a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-three CCHA playoff series.
Defenseman Marc Barlow would give BG a 1-0 lead with his fifth goal of the season. Barlow was positioned in front of the net and knocked the puck past Miami netminder David Burleigh after corralling a rebound off a Ryan Murphy shot. Greg Day also helped set up the play.
Miami would answer less than two minutes later, with Pat Leahy posting his 12th score on the year at 15:23. Mike Glumac and Nick Jardine were awarded helpers on the play.
MU's Evan Cheverie would be the lone goal scorer in the middle frame, netting his 12th at 3:47. Assists were given to Chris Knupp and Anthony Donskov.
The RedHawks' third unanswered goal would come off the stick of A.J. Kratofil at 2:15 of the third period. Senior Gregor Krajnc set up Kratofil's first collegiate goal.
The Falcons were not about to call it quits, although Miami led 3-1 with 15 minutes to go in the contest. BG would mount a dramatic comeback, sparked by their third line. Austin de Luis, Tyler Knight, and Ryan Wetterberg have been responsbile for 5 points over the past two games, and they continued to be hot Thursday, with Knight netting his fourth goal of the season to fire up the team. Wetterberg started the play, pulling the puck off the boards and centering out to defenseman Doug Schueller. Schueller passed it ahead to Knight, who put the puck behind Burleigh at 5:48.
BG's top line of Ryan Murphy, Greg Day, and Scott Hewson would combine to tie the game at three a piece. Freshman Brian Escobedo started the play by breaking up a Miami pass in the defensive zone. He carried the puck and a RedHawk defender up ice, breaking into the offensive end. Greg Day came in to help Escobedo and got the puck up ahead to Murphy. The senior winger skated behind the net and tried to score on a wraparound, but Burleigh was able to get his stick down and keep the puck out. In the meantime, Hewson had planted himself in the crease and was able to knock the loose puck past Burleigh at 10:22.
With time winding down, Murphy put the Falcons ahead for the first time since the opening goal. Murphy's team leading 21st of the year came off a deflection of a Grady Moore shot. Greg Day also garnered an assist on Murphy's power-play marker, scored at 15:36.
Falcon goaltender Tyler Masters stopped 34 RedHawk shots, including 19 in the first period to earn the win for BG. Burleigh made 22 saves in net for Miami. Bowling Green's power play was successful once in three chances, while their penalty kill held the RedHawks scoreless during their three man-advantage opportunities.
The Falcons and the RedHawks square off again Friday night for Game Two of their playoff series at Goggin Ice Arena in Oxford. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35.
