Broncos Ruin BGSU Home Opener In Overtime, 6-5

Friday, October 11

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:05 PM

Bowling Green State University

WESTERN MICHIGAN

October 11, 2002 | Ice Hockey

Oct. 11, 2002

Final Stats

Bowling Green, Ohio - Western Michigan ruined Bowling Green's home opener on Friday night at the BGSU Ice Arena, defeating the host Falcons 6-5 in overtime. The Broncos scored two unanswered goals in the final 10 minutes of the game to send it to overtime where they won with a goal after just 25 seconds.

BGSU (1-2 overall, 0-1 CCHA) flexed its offensive muscles, netting five goals, including three power-play tallies and one short-handed goal. The Falcons had a 5-3 lead at 8:40 in the third period after a PPG from Steve Brudzewski.

"I thought it was well-played game on both parts," said BGSU coach Scott Paluch. "Once again, it's one of those situations where the game is tight all the way through. They made the plays the last eight minutes of the game."

WMU freshman Vince Bellissimo began the scoring with his first collegiate goal at 6:29 in the first period. Later in the period, senior Tyler Knight knotted the game at 1-1 later in the period with a PPG at 14:33. He was assisted by Roger Leonard and Brett Pilkington. It was Knight's first goal of the season.

The Broncos regained the lead, 2-1, with just one second remaining in the first period off of an Andy Townsend deflection (19:59).

The Falcons special teams continued to shine in the second period. Junior Kevin Bieksa tied the game at 2-2 with a power-play goal (6:46) and assists from D'Arcy McConvey and Don Morrison. Then the Falcons took the lead, 3-2, for the first time off of Steve Brudzewski's short-handed goal at 8:06. Ryan Minnabarriet assisted on the first short-handed goal by BGSU this season.

"Our special teams, again, was very strong and gave us a good chance to win the hockey game," said Paluch. "We want to gain momentum from our penalty kill. It's a great way to gain momentum in a hockey game."

WMU answered with its own short-handed goal just under seven minutes later (15:04) from Brent Walton, tying the game at 3-3.

The score stayed that way until 5:32 of the third period when Morrison scored his first collegiate goal at even strength. Fellow frosh Brett Pilkington assisted on the go-ahead goal for a 4-3 BGSU lead. That's when Brudzewski struck again, this time on the power play, to give the Falcons a 5-3 lead at 8:40 of the third period. Knight and Mike Falk assisted on the goal.

WMU (1-0) went on to score the final three goals of the game for the second overtime victory in a row at BGSU Ice Arena.

The Broncos held a 50-23 shot advantage in the game. BGSU mustered only six shots on net in both the first and second periods while the visitors had 20 and 14, respectively. The Falcons narrowed the gap in the third period, 15-11.

Senior Tyler Masters had 44 saves on the night after facing all 50 shots. WMU goalie Scott Foster had 18 saves, including nine in the third period.

"Tyler made a lot of saves in critical situations," said Paluch. "Tyler has done that throughout his career. He makes the saves to give our team a chance to win hockey games. Unfortunately, tonight, we put ourselves in some tough situations down the stretch and missed a few responsibilities."

The Falcons finished 3-for-6 on its power play while WMU was 0-for-7. BGSU is now 6-for-16 on the power play in three games (37.5 pct.) while killing off all 17 power plays its opponents have had.

The Falcons travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., tomorrow night (Saturday, Oct. 12) for a rematch with the Broncos at Larson Arena. Face-off is scheuled for 8:05 p.m.