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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
Michigan
BGSU Ties #6 Michigan, 1-1
November 09, 2002 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 9, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green battled Saturday night to a 1-1 tie against visiting #6 Michigan at the BGSU Ice Arena, and battled both teams did. Michigan ended with 11 penalties while BGSU had 10 minors called against them in a physical Central Collegiate Hockey Association contest.
"I thought the night picked up right where we left off yesterday," said BGSU coach Scott Paluch. " I thought yesterday was a highly competitive game and tonight was much the same thing. I think the physical part of the weekend really picked up tonight. It was a fun hockey game. I thought it was a classic type of CCHA game. Michigan, as I mentioned last night, is a team we expected coming in with skill and speed and a physical edge. Our team matched that the whole weekend."
Sophomore Jordan Sigalet had a stellar performance in the net for Bowling Green, tying a career-high with 48 saves on 49 shots faced, as well as recording his first career point with an assist on the Falcons' lone goal.
Near the end of the first period, Sigalet stopped a dump in by the Wolverines and held the puck behind the net for defenseman Kevin Bieksa. The assistant captain carried the puck into the Michigan zone and fired a slapshot from the top of the circles past UM goalie Al Montoya for a 1-0 BGSU lead (18:30). However, on the shot Bieksa was knocked to the ice and had to leave the game. He did not return to the game.
Both teams ended the first period with 11 shots apiece. Ten penalties were called in the first 20 minutes, including six by UM and four by BGSU.
The Falcon lead held until 13:20 in the second period when Michigan's Mark Mink scored with an assist from J.J. Swistak to knot the game at 1-1.
Sigalet held the Wolverines over the final two periods and overtime with Michigan holding a 19-9 shot advantage in the second period, 17-9 advantage in the third period, and 2-1 advantage in overtime. Sigalet was the Perani Cup first star of the game.
"Siggy kept it at bay and gave us a chance to get our legs moving, which is just what you need out of a good goalie," said Paluch. "Its all part of a team--guys picking each other up and he picked us up in that situation. We feel very comfortable with our goaltenders. Jordan was spectacular tonight."
After five UM penalties and six BGSU penalties in the second period, both teams played penalty-free in the third period and overtime.
"A lot of the penalties were in the course of...just the flow of the game," said Paluch. "The game did get a little on edge there towards the end of the first and a little bit of the second. It was certainly an intense game and a great college hockey game"
BGSU ended 0-for-6 on its power play with Michigan ending 0-for-5 with the man advantage.
"The big difference tonight was special teams," said Sigalet. "They had a lot of power-play goals last night. We did a good job of tying up their speed tonight. I just try to see everything. They like to get it down low. Guys did a good job of getting rid of rebounds. It was a fun game to play. It was really intense all the way through. It was like a playoff game."
Michigan now stands at 6-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the CCHA. Meanwhile, BGSU got its first point in league play this season and is now 2-8-1 overall and 0-7-1 in the CCHA.
Montoya had 29 saves on 30 shots faced for Michigan.
Sigalet's assist on Bieksa's goal was the first assist by a BGSU goalie since Tyler Masters assisted on a Curtis Valentine goal on Feb. 18, 2000 against Notre Dame (5-3 BGSU loss).
"I'm certainly very proud of our effort, tonight, being able to come out of that with a point," Paluch said about his Falcons. "But as I mentioned, I thought the entire weekend we brought a pretty good edge to us. It's certainly necessary to compete week in and week out in our league. It was a fun game, too. The atmosphere was there in the building. Sometimes you get a feel of playoff hockey in November, and that certainly had some good jump to it."
It was the first time for Michigan to be held under three goals in eight games this season.
Bowling Green hosts the U.S.A. Under-18 team next Friday, Nov. 15, at the BGSU Ice Arena in an exhibition contest.
