Bowling Green State University Athletics
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
Falcons Score Five Unanswered In 5-2 Win Over WMU
January 15, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 15, 2006
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - After surrendering the first two goals of Saturday night's contest with Western Michigan, the Bowling Green State University hockey team got back on track with a 5-2 win over the Broncos inside Lawson Arena in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With the win the Falcons improve to 11-12-1 overall and 7-9-1 in the CCHA.
The win also gives the Falcons eight victories in their last 10 games.
"This was a real important game for us," said head coach Scott Paluch. "I thought we got back to doing the things that makes us a better team."
After a scoreless first period the Broncos recorded two goals in the first eight minutes of the second, but the Falcons got within one with an even-strength goal by Derek Whitmore at the 8:15 mark of the second. Brett Pilkington and James Unger assisted on the goal.
Western Michigan (5-14-3, 5-9-2) looked to regain the two goal lead just minutes later off the stick of Mike Erickson, but the goal was waved off immediately by the referee for a high-stick, which looked to be a momentum swing for both clubs.
The Falcons knotted the score at two apiece off the stick of Pilkington on the power play. Derek Whitmore and Unger picked up helpers on the equalizer at the 16:11 mark of the second.
Mike Falk picked up his 12th goal of the season with just 38 seconds remaining in the second period to give the Brown and Orange the lead for good. Sophomore Jonathan Matsumoto passed the puck down low to fellow classmate Alex Foster. Foster found Falk alone in the slot, who fired a shot past WMU's Daniel Bellissimo.
BGSU picked up an insurance goal at the 7:11 mark of the third, after Matsumoto intercepted a pass and skated in on the WMU cage, wristing a shot past Bellissimo.
The Falcons scored their fifth straight unanswered goal with just under five minutes remaining in the contest. Junior Bryan Dobek cleared the puck out of the Falcon zone onto the blade of sophomore Ben Geelan. Geelan fed the puck to John Mazzei, who crashed the net for a 5-2 Falcon victory.
For the night the Falcons held a 34-20 shot advantage, but most notably held WMU's Brent Walton to only one shot on the night, after recording four goals the night prior.
BGSU was 1-for-5 on the night with the man advantage, while the Broncos were held scoreless on five tries. The power-play goal is the tenth straight game with an extra-man goal.
Jimmy Spratt recorded his fourth win of the season, turning-aside 18-of-20 shots. Bellissimo recorded 29 saves for the contest.
Up next for the Falcons is a Monday tilt at 7:05 with Ferris State inside the BGSU Ice Arena. Opening face-off is set for 7:05.
