Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Michigan
Falcons Upset #9 Michigan, 4-2
January 25, 2002 | Ice Hockey
After Michigan pulled to within one midway through the third period, the Falcons held off a late rally by the home team. Junior forward Tyler Knight finally put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal with just 32 seconds remaining for the final two-goal decision.
"We played with passion and emotion that we've talked about having," said BGSU coach Buddy Powers. "We had tremendous goaltending, I thought our team D was good. If you hold Michigan to two goals you've done something right. The players decided themselves that they want to get better. And they went out and played that way tonight."
After killing off three power plays by Michigan in the first period, BGSU's Denis White netted the first goal of the game at 18:42 on a forehander with assists from Knight and Ryan Minnabarriet. It was just White's second goal this season while Knight and Minnabarriet picked up assists six and five, respectively.
White's goal marked the fifth different line to score Bowling Green's last five goals over the past three games. Michigan outshot the Falcons just 11-10 in the opening 20 minutes with BGSU having more quality scoring opportunities.
"That first shift we got the puck in deep, we got the chances right away, and that helped us out quite a bit to feel that we can be on the same ice as these guys," said Powers. "Each of the lines kept it up through the course of the night. It's a great win for us."
Senior Scott Hewson pushed BGSU's lead to two goals early in the second period when D'Arcy McConvey picked up a loose puck near center ice and passed to a streaking Hewson. The goal came at 1:15 in the second period and was Hewson's sixth of the season.
Michigan cut its deficit to one goal just under four minutes later when Eric Werner scored a short-handed goal during the Falcons second power play of the game. Werner's second goal of the year came at 5:08 in the second. Bowling Green outshot the Wolverines 13-12 in the second period.
Just 1:02 into the third period, senior defenseman Marc Barlow again gave the visitors a two-goal lead with a wrister from the left circle. Kevin Bieksa and Ryan Wetterberg assisted on the goal.
However, Michigan again came back and cut the Falcon lead to one when Andy Burnes netted his second goal of the season at 13:23 in the third period. But, Bowling Green killed off two Wolverine power plays in the third to keep the game out of reach. Michigan ended 0-for-8 on power play tries while BGSU was 0-for-5 on the night.
"When they got the good shots Masters made big saves," Powers said about junior goalie Tyler Masters. "There were a few saves that he made in the game that were huge." Masters ended with 31 saves while UM's Josh Blackburn had 30 saves.
Knight sealed the win with his fourth goal of the season, second empty-netter, at 19:27 with an assist from senior Greg Day.
The victory was Bowling Green's second in a row at Yost Ice Arena. BGSU won 6-3 in Ann Arbor on March 4, 2000. It was just the 14th road win for the Falcons vs. Michigan in 46 games played (14-32-0) and was the 30th win all-time against the Blue and Maize (30-57-2).
The Falcons finish its series against #9 Michigan tomorrow night, Jan. 26, at Yost Ice Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
