Bowling Green State University
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
BGSU Collects Series Sweep Over Northern Michigan With 5-3 Win
January 11, 2003 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 11, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green collected its first series sweep in nearly two years by defeating #16 ranked Northern Michigan on Saturday at the BGSU Ice Arena, 5-3. The Falcons overcame a two-goal deficit early in the second period by scoring the final four goals of the game, including two off the stick of junior Roger Leonard.
The last two-game weekend sweep for BGSU came March 2-3, 2001, over visiting Ferris State in the last weekend of the regular season (1-0 OT and 3-2).
Leonard's second goal of the night at 13:35 of the third period gave BGSU its first lead of the game, 4-3. Sophomore Steve Brudzewski and junior Kevin Bieksa assisted on the goal. The Falcons then got an empty-net goal from Brudzewski at 19:25 to seal the victory. Goalie Jordan Sigalet and junior D'Arcy McConvey assisted on the goal. It was Sigalet's second assist of the season and of his career.
"It was a series with quick pace, up and down, not a lot of penalties, some good plays on both sides, and all in all a good weekend," said BGSU coach Scott Paluch. "It was a tremendous team effort in a lot of ways. There were some real good blocked shots out of a lot of guys and some good saves out of Jordan (Sigalet)."
NMU got on the board first at 4:38 of the first period with a power-play goal from Jamie Milam. With just seven seconds left in the first period, though, junior Brian Escobedo scored his first PPG goal of the season to knot the game at 1-1. Tyler Knight and Brudzewski assisted on the goal. BGSU had a 14-7 shot advantage in the first 20 minutes.
The Wildcats regained the lead at 1:11 of the second period with a goal from Alex Sawruk and built the advantage to 3-1 with another goal from Sawruk at 6:48. BGSU cut its deficit back to one goal at 15:52 of the second period when Leonard scored his first PPG of the season, and recorded his first goal since the first game of the season (Oct. 4 vs. Niagara). Freshman Mike Falk and Escobedo assisted on the goal.
"After their third goal I thought we did a good job of getting right back to what we need to do to be successful, which is keeping the puck in safe areas, driving wide, cycling the puck, and that got us back in the game," said Paluch.
Bieksa's slapshot from the top of the right circle at 6:18 of the third period tied the game at 3-3. His power-play goal was his second of the season and was unassisted.
BGSU used the momentum gained by tying the game to score two more goals in the third period to collect its third CCHA victory of the season and improve its home record to 4-3-2 this season. The win also was the first on Saturday night for BGSU this season (1-7-1).
NMU was 1-for-4 on the power play while the Falcons were 3-for-4 with the man advantage. It was the second time this season that BGSU had three PPGs in a game (three vs. WMU on Oct. 12).
"Tonight we had some really good movement on the power play to get the puck to the net," said Paluch. "Today with a few adjustments we were able to get the puck up the ice."
BGSU held a 32-29 shot advantage for the game. Sigalet ended with 26 saves and improved his home record to 3-0-2. NMU's Craig Kowalski had 27 saves in net.
NMU fell to 10-9-1 overall and 8-6-0 in CCHA while BGSU improved to 5-13-2 overall and 3-10-2 in the CCHA.
The Falcons have a short week before returning to action at Ohio State this Thursday and Friday (Jan. 16 and 17) at Value City Arena. Both faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
