Bowling Green State University
Miami
BGSU Knocks Off Conference Co-Leader, 4-1
October 31, 2003 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 31, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green did its damage in the second period, scoring three goals, en route to a 4-1 victory over visiting Miami. The RedHawks entered the game as one of the co-leaders in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
"I thought it was a very solid game by our team," said BGSU coach Scott Paluch. "When we gave up the late goal in the second period I thought it was critical on how we were going to respond. I thought it was real important that we were able to have some good shifts after that."
Sophomore Brett Pilkington scored a career-high two goals in the victory, both coming in the second period. The Calgary, Alberta, native got the Falcons on the board just 2:16 into the period with assists coming from Mark Wires and Rich Meloche.
Just six minutes later senior Brian Escobedo netted his first goal of the season on the Falcon power play at 8:40 with a slapshot from the top left circle. Kevin Bieksa and D'Arcy McConvey assisted on the goal that gave BGSU a 2-0 lead.
Pilkington then netted his second goal of the game on the Falcon power play at 17:53 for a three-goal lead. Jonathan Sigalet and Mike Falk earned assists. Miami answered shortly after that when Derek Edwardson scored at 18:38 to cut into the home team's lead.
Junior Steve Brudzewski added an empty-net goal at 18:26 in the third period for the final 4-1 verdict.
The Falcons were able to hold Miami's second-ranked power play in the nation to 0-for-6 with the man advantage in the game. Meanwhile, BGSU was 2-for-5 on the power play.
"We've been getting pretty solid penalty kills for most of the year and I thought they were outstanding tonight against a team that is extremely dangerous on the power play," said Paluch.
BGSU improved its penalty-kill percentage to .895 (34-of-38) while its power play percentage jumped to .122 (5-for-41).
The Falcons held a 31-21 shot advantage in the game. Jordan Sigalet stopped 20 of 21 shots he faced while Miami's Brandon Crawford-West had 27 saves with three goals allowed.
Mark Wires improved his current point streak to three games with an assist.
BGSU improves to 2-4-1 overall and 2-3-0 in the CCHA. Miami drops to 3-5-1 overall and 3-2-0 in league play. The two teams meet again on Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. face-off at the BGSU Ice Arena.
