Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Rout Northern Michigan, 8-4
November 19, 2005 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 19, 2005
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University hockey team rebounded nicely from a tough loss on Friday night, en route to torching Northern Michigan 8-4 Saturday evening in the BGSU Ice Arena. The Falcons, who posted a season-high eight goals in the win, recorded six goals in the first period, the most in any period since Feb. 13, 1999 versus Alaska Fairbanks.
"It was a real good game out of our team," said head coach Scott Paluch. Jon Horrell was solid in goal. We just a lot better tonight about protecting the middle of the ice. We exploded there in the first period, which was probably as quick as we have been with our four lines. As we saw a few weeks ago with the Omaha game, it is nice that our team can get some offensive production.
The BGSU offensive outburst got started early as junior James Unger defected a shot off the stick of sophomore Michael Hodgson into the back of the net for the Falcons lone power-play goal of the night.
Just seven minutes later the puck somehow found the stick of Derek Whitmore, who despite being in a crowd, was able to get enough wood on the puck to jam it home to spot the Falcons an early 2-0 advantage.
A NMU goal at the 9:29 mark got the Wildcats within one at 2-1, but Brandon Svendson recorded his second goal of the season just three minutes later. The freshman forward wristed a shot past NMU's goaltender Bill Zaniboni to give the Falcons a 3-1 lead. Zaniboni would get sent to the bench following the goal.
The Wildcats answered right back just 43 seconds later as Andrew Contois found the back of the net for NMU.
"We were able to answer every time we needed too," said Paluch. "We just had a good wave of line after line, putting pressure of them and creating chances.
The first period offensive barrage continued as Alex Foster recorded his first career short-handed goal at the 16:49 mark. Foster stole the puck at the top of the blueline with just him and open ice in front of him. He made a move to his right before coming back to his left for a nearly open net goal.
Immediately as the Falcons killed one of NMU's seven power play attempts, Mike Falk continued his hot streak recording his 10th goal of the season. He now has a goal in four straight games and five in the last four contests.
Just as you thought you saw it all, the Falcons got one more goal before time expired in the opening session. With Unger drawing a crowd, Foster parked himself in front of the net. Unger got the puck right onto Foster's stick, who gave new goaltender Derek Janzen a little wiggle, before placing the puck into the top shelf.
In the first period alone the Falcons had 15 shots compared to NMU's 16.
Both teams exchanged goals in the second period as sophomore Ben Geelan posted the Falcons second short-handed goal of the night (BGSU entered Saturday night's contest with zero short-handed goals). Geelan, skating down the right side let a slap-shot fly right through the five-hole of Janzen. That goal got Janzen pulled and brought Zaniboni back into the game.
The Orange and Brown's final goal of the night came on a two-on-one breakaway. Sophomore Jon Mazzei came flying down the right side and towards the right post of the goal. A little flick of the wrist sent the pick over to junior Bryan Dobek, who deflected the puck over the right pad of Zaniboni.
Not to get lost in all of the offense was senior Jon Horrell's first collegiate victory. He turned aside 32-of-36 NMU shot attempts and helped the Falcons kill 6-of-7 NMU power plays.
Up next for the Falcons will be a home-and-home with Miami. BGSU will play on Oxford (Nov. 25) and host the Redhawks the following night at the Ice Arena.
