Bowling Green State University
Lake Superior State
Falcons Defeat Lake Superior, 2-1
October 30, 2004 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 30, 2004
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green salvaged a weekend split of visiting Lake Superior on Saturday afternoon thanks to a career-high two goals from sophomore Rich Meloche and solid goalie play from Jordan Sigalet. The victory was the first Central Collegiate Hockey Association win of the year for the Falcons.
"We definitely grinded that one out," said BGSU Coach Scott Paluch. "It was a win that a lot of guys did a lot of things necessary to win that hockey game. It was a tight, almost line-of-scrimmage type of game throughout the entire 60 minutes, and I'm really happy with the way our guys held up through a lot, fighting through a lot of blocked shots, a lot of bumps and bruises as the game went on and really willed ourselves to a really big two points."
Paluch seemed to like the the idea of the quick turnaround from Friday night's loss.
"Not a lot of waiting around. We didn't have the meeting. Everything was kind of meal, get here, eat, and play a hockey game. We didn't have to wait a long time to think about last night and I think that was a positive for us."
Meloche gave BGSU a 1-0 lead at 18:32 of the first period with a laser of a slapshot from the top-left circle, finding its way top-shelf past LSSU goalie Jeff Jakaitis. Freshmen Michael Hodgson and John Mazzei each earned assists on the goal.
The lead didn't last long, though, as Matt Restoule of LSSU scored at 19:03 of the first period to knot the game at 1-1. BGSU held a 15-11 shot advantage in the opening period.
Meloche struck again just 1:25 into the second period, his second goal of the game, giving BGSU a 2-1 lead. Senior Ryan Minnabarriet earned an assist.
Meanwhile, Sigalet was steady in goal, stopping 34 of 35 shots faced, including 24 of 24 over the final two periods. LSSU pulled Jakaitis with 1:22 remaining in the game but the Falcons were able to hold on for their third win of the season, improving to 3-1-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the CCHA. LSSU drops to 1-5-0 overall and 1-3-0 in the CCHA.
"It was really huge," said Sigalet. "Everyone stepped it up a notch tonight and played for each other and it showed on the ice. I think we just knew it was do-or-die tonight. We were really aggressive. We've got a lot of injured bodies in there from sacrificing their bodies for blocked shots and saving me from stuff and making my job easier."
"I like just getting on with it instead of waiting around all day for the game. And it's right at our practice time so its basically like a practice for us, get out there and play the game instead of a practice."
BGSU was 1-for-6 on the power play while the Lakers were 0-for-6. LSSU ended with a 35-28 shot advantage for the game.
BGSU returns to action this Thursday night when it hosts Notre Dame in a special midweek game. Face-off against the Irish is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
