.png&type=webp)
Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
FERRIS STATE
Falcons Drop Tough One to Fifth-Ranked Ferris State, 4-2
March 07, 2003 | Ice Hockey
March 7, 2003
Bowling Green, Ohio - Despite allowing two goals in the first 1:22 of the game to Ferris State on Friday, Bowling Green answered with two goals of its own to tie the game (2-2) early in the second period. However, BGSU gave up two third period goals, including an empty-netter, to drop a Central Collegiate Hockey Association contest at BGSU Ice Arena, 4-2. The win by #5-ranked FSU gave the school its first CCHA Championship in school history.
"It's a tough way to start against a tough team like that, to get yourself down 2-0," said BGSU coach Scott Paluch. "I give a lot of credit and am very proud of our guys for sticking right with it and battling back, and getting that game turned around to what we needed it to be. When we were able to cycle down low and control the game down low it was a little more in our favor. We just weren't able to get that goal in the third."
FSU's Matt York capitalized on a BGSU turnover at just 1:05 of the first period to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. It was his fifth netter of the season. Just 17 seconds later (1:22), Greg Rallo gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with a shot past BGSU goalie Jordan Sigalet after recovering a loose puck deep in the Falcon zone.
The Falcons settled down from there, though, and cut its deficit to one when freshman Mike Falk shot top-shelf past FSU goalie Mike Brown at 15:46 of the first period, 2-1. It was his ninth goal of the season and was assisted by Chris Pedota and Steve Brudzewski. FSU held a 13-11 shot advantage in the opening period.
BGSU evened the game up at 2-2 early in the second period when junior Mark Wires battled down low with a loose puck and scored his 12th goal of the season at 4:23. The goal was unassisted. The score stayed that way throughout the rest of the period, despite BGSU holding a 11-8 shot advantage in the second period.
The Bulldogs came out aggressive in the third period and had several odd-man rushes in the period that Sigalet and BGSU defensemen were able to neutralize. Then at 11:51, Troy Milam scored to give FSU a 3-2 lead. Jeff Legue scored an empty-net goal at 19:37 of the third period for the final 4-2 verdict and give FSU its eighth-straight victory. FSU held a 14-2 shot advantage in the final period.
"What's really impressive about it is when you're playing a team as good as they are, and the first two real-good chances go in the net, that's tough on a goaltender's psyche," Paluch said about Sigalet. "But what a great way to battle back. He made some terrific saves and our defensemen back on the two-on-one made some pretty good plays to eliminate some of those chances."
Sigalet ended with 31 saves in 59:33 minutes of action. Brown had 21 saves for the Bulldogs. It was just the second time in six games that FSU had more than one goal scored on them.
FSU ended with a 35-23 shot advantage in the game while both teams were scoreless on their power plays, BGSU 0-for-5 and FSU 0-for-4, respectively.
The Bulldogs improved their record to 26-8-1 overall and 21-5-1 in league play to secure the top spot in the CCHA. BGSU dropped to 8-22-3 overall and 5-19-3 in the CCHA. In other league action, Michigan tied Ohio State, 4-4, to secure second-place and earn the right to host the Falcons next week in the first round of the CCHA Playoffs (March 14-16) in Ann Arbor.
BGSU will host FSU on Saturday in the final regular-season game of the year. Two Falcon seniors, forward Tyler Knight and goalie Tyler Masters, will be recognized before the game in their final home game at BGSU Ice Arena.
