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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Look To Keep Streak Going Into New Year
January 02, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 2, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
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GAME #20
Colgate vs. BGSU
Tues., January 3, 2006
7:05 p.m.
BGSU Ice Arena (5,000)
Bowling Green, Ohio
RADIO: WBGU-FM (88.1) - Andy Evans
Pregame: Starts at 6:35
LAST MEETING: BGSU 2, Colgate 2 (Nov. 22, 2003)
The Falcons, currently on a three game win streak, will play host to Colgate this Tuesday at 7:05 inside the BGSU Ice Arena. The current three game win streak ranks ninth best in the country.
The Series With Colgate
BGSU owns an all-time series advantage of 4-0-1 over the Raiders. The last time these two squads faced off came back on Nov. 22, 2003 in Hamilton, NY, with the teams coming away with a 2-2 tie. BGSU assistant coach Ron Fogarty was an assistant for Colgate for three years in the late `90's and played for the Raiders from 1992-95. Fogarty dressed for a 135 straight games for the Raiders, a school record.
Falcons Capture UConn Holiday Classic Championship
BGSU 3, UMass 2 (Semi-finals)
BGSU 9, UConn 2 (Championship)
The Falcons captured the Toyota UConn Holiday Classic in Storrs, Conn., with a 3-2 victory over UMass in the semi-finals and a 9-2 victory over the Huskies in the championship match the following night. BGSU had four of the six players on the all-tournament team with Alex Foster (MVP), Jon Horrell, Jonathan Matsumoto, and Mike Nesdill all receiving tournament honors. For the tournament the Falcons averaged 6.0 goals per game, while surrendering only 2.0 goals per game. The four total goals given up was the best defensive effort over a weekend this season for the Brown and Orange. In the two games nine different Falcons picked up a goal, while 14 recorded at least one point. The Falcons were led by Alex Foster (0-4-4), Jonathan Matsumoto (3-0-3), Bryan Dobek (2-1-3), John Mazzei (2-1-3), Mike Nesdill (1-2-3), Brandon Svendsen (1-2-3), James Unger (1-2-3) and Brett Pilkington (0-3-3), but the star of the tournament was senior net-minder Jon Horrell. Horrell stopped 40-of-42 shots in the win over UMass and 30-of-31 the following night versus the Huskies. For the weekend he recorded a 1.56 gaa and a .959 save percentage.
Take Me To Your Leader
Sophomore Alex Foster is currently first in the country with 27 assists and fourth with 32 overall points. He also ranks second with 1.42 helpers per game and third in the nation with 1.68 points per contest. Foster recorded eight points (0g, 8a) for the month of December after being named CCHA Offensive Player of the month in November. He is currently on a five-game point streak (0-8-8) and has scored a point in every game but three this season.
The Incredible Falk
Mike Falk entered the 2005-06 season with a career 24 goals in 89 games. This season alone he has already amassed 11 goals, which places him second on the team, one behind Matsumoto. The senior recorded eight goals in 27 games last season and had his career-best 11 goals in 35 games his freshman year. Falk ranks 32nd in the country with .58 goals/game. He also is T-25th in the nation with five power-play goals. On the year the senior forward has 11 goals and five assists in 19 games, six points shy of his career-high, set his freshman campaign.
Now That Is A Crazy Schedule
In a span of 19 days, the Bowling Green hockey team will play a total of eight games. The team has already completed the first two games of a crazy few weeks by capturing the UConn Classic championship, but they also host Colgate (Jan. 3) play a home-and-home with Ohio State (Jan. 6-7) and Western Michigan (Jan. 13-14) as well as one game with Ferris State (Jan. 16). The 19 days before the UConn Classic the Falcons played a total of zero games.
Horrell Has Been Moving On Up
In his last four starts, senior Jon Horrell not only owns a 3-1-0 overall record, but also has posted a 2.56 gaa and a .934 save percentage since getting the nod on Dec. 2 at Michigan State. In that contest he stopped 36-of-39 shots and followed that up with a 35-of-39 performance versus #14 St. Lawrence, 40-of-42 saves in a win over UMass and 30-of-31 in the championship contest with UConn. Entering that contest with the Spartans Horrell had a 3.81 gaa and an .870 save percentage. He now owns a 3.34 gaa and an impressive .898 save percentage. In those last four starts he has stopped 141-of-151 shots (.934) and owns a 2.56 gaa. Of the 10 goals Horrell has surrendered in that span, three have come while defending the opposing team's power play, three short-handed goals, and one came on a penalty shot. Only three of the 10 goals allowed have come at even strength.
Matsumoto Looks To Have It Going Again
A two game slide may not seem like much to most, but back on Dec. 2-3 sophomore Jonathan Matsumoto was held without a point for the entire weekend. Well, that did not last long. The forward picked up four points (2g, 2a) back on Dec. 9-10, versus two ranked opponents. In the previous 13 games before MSU Matsumoto had at least one point in 11-of-13 contests, and has multiple point efforts seven different times this year. This past weekend Matsumoto was named to the All-Tournament team after posting a tournament-high three goals in the two games. In 55 career games he has been held without a point only 15 times (30%). This year, in only 19 games the forward has recorded 28 points (12g, 16a). For the year Matsumoto can be found throughout the nation's leaders in points (28, 11th), points per game (1.47, 12th), goals (12, 10th), and power-play goals (8, T-4th). He had his first career hat trick versus Boston College and had a four-point night (1-3--4) in an 8-4 win over Nebraska-Omaha. For his career he has 30 goals and 30 assists in 55 career games (1.08 per game).
Unger Has The Magic Touch
Junior James Unger is third on the team with eight goals and tied for third with 16 points among his teammates. In games where Unger has scored a goal the Falcons are 5-3 overall. He scored goals in back-to-back games in the sweep over UNO, a goal in the 8-4 win over NMU, one goal in the 4-2 victory over MSU and picked up one tally in the 9-2 win over UConn. He currently has 10 points (5g, 5a) in his last eight games. Unger ranks 25th in the country with five power-play goals.
Barnett Closing In On Career-Best
Ryan Barnett has already amassed seven points (1g, 6a) in 17 games this season. His lone goal was the game-winner back on Nov. 5 in a 4-3 win over UNO. His freshman year he recorded a career-high four goals and five assists. In his first three seasons with the Falcons Barnett had recorded seven goals and seven assists in 71 career games.
Offense, Offense and More Offense
The Falcon offense ranks sixth in the country with 3.74 goals/game. Already this season they have put up six goals versus Boston College and St. Lawrence, seven goals against Nebraska-Omaha, eight tallies versus Northern Michigan and are coming off a season-best nine lamp lighters in the win over UConn. In terms of goals scored the Falcons are led by Jonathan Matsumoto (12), Mike Falk (11), James Unger (8), Derek Whitmore (6), Alex Foster (5) and Brandon Svendsen (5).
Svendsen Makes A Brief Stop At The Hospital
Back on Dec. 9 freshman Brandon Svendsen dove headfirst into the BGSU goal post in an attempt to stop an empty net goal by Clarkson. While deflecting the puck into the corner his momentum also carried him headfirst into the boards behind the net. The impact was extreme enough that Svendsen had to leave the ice surface on a stretcher. The following night versus St. Lawrence the freshman was back out there and scored a goal to give the Falcons a 3-2 lead, a game they would eventually win 6-4 and extend his point streak to three games. In his last nine games he has recorded nine points (4g, 5a), after scoring only two points (1g, 1a) in his first 10 games of his Falcon career and is currently on a five-game point streak (2-5-7).
The PP Gets Back On Track
In their last four games the BGSU power play has recorded eight goals on 24 attempts (.333). In their previous seven games the Falcons power play manage a mere five goals on 50 tries (.100). In that span the Falcon's power play has climbed from 10th (.151) all the way to third (.186). During the revival of the BGSU power play the Falcons have been led by Whitmore (3), Matsumoto (2) as well as senior captain Don Morrison (1), Mike Falk (1) and James Unger (1).
Morrison Has Big Weekend
On Dec. 9-10 senior Don Morrison recorded back-to-back multiple point games versus Clarkson and St. Lawrence, two ranked opponents. On Friday the senior captain scored to give the Falcons a 3-0 advantage and assisting on the opening goal of the game as well. The following night Morrison picked up the game-winner with a slap-shot through traffic at the 14:24 mark of the third. For the weekend the defensemen picked up four points (2g, 2a) and finished with a plus-1 rating. The Morrison highlights do not stop there. He was named captain of the Falcon squad at the start of the season, and followed that up by scoring the Falcons first goal of the year back on Oct. 14 versus Merrimack. Morrison is the lone captain this season. The last time BGSU had a lone captain was back during the 1987-88 season when now head coach Scott Paluch wore the "C". Morrison will join Paluch (1987-88), George Roll (1984-85), Mike Bartley (1973-74), Chuck Gyles (1972-73), and Glen Shirton (1971-72) as lone season captains.
Other Falcon Notes
• Michigan State scored on a penalty shot back on Dec. 2. The last time BGSU surrendered a penalty shot goal came all the way back on Feb. 9, 2002 when Ferris State's Jason Basile scored.
• Former BGSU defenseman Rob Blake was named to the Canadian Olympic Team earlier this week. Blake was a member of the same team in 2002 that captured the gold medal.
• Former Falcon Kevin Bieksa was called up by the Vancouver Canucks back in mid-December and has seen action in six games, registering nine PIM and eight shots.
So, Why the Turn-Around?
Bowling Green has won four of their last five, with several wins coming against some top-notch competition, but what has the difference been? During this streak the Falcons are averaging 5.2 goals per game, while giving up only 3.2 per game. They have also got their power play going once again, scoring on nine of their last 29 chances (.310). The scoring has begun to spread out, seeing several Falcons post impressive numbers during that span, including Alex Foster (0-8-8), Jonathan Matsumoto (5-2-7), Brandon Svendsen (2-5-7), James Unger (3-3-6), John Mazzei (2-4-6), Derek Whitmore (4-1-5) and Don Morrison (3-2-5). Also of note, during the win streak every Falcon has at least an even plus-minus rating, with 16 of them recording at least a plus-one rating.
Whitmore Finding The Scoring Touch
Sophomore Derek Whitmore recorded three goals over the Dec. 9-10 weekend, including two versus St. Lawrence, tying his career-high for goals in a game. He continued that hot scoring streak in Storrs, Conn., registering a goal in the win over the Huskies. He has eight points (5g, 3a) in his last eight games, after posting only one point in his first seven games this year.
Sophomore Class Having A Strong Campaign
The eight-man second year class comprised of Jon Erickson (1-1--2), Alex Foster (5-27--32), Ben Geelan (3-0--3), Michael Hodgson (0-5--5), Jonathan Matsumoto (12-16--28), John Mazzei (4-6--10), Mike Nesdill (1-5--6) and Derek Whitmore (6-3--9) have combined for 32 goals, 63 assists and 95 points in just 19 games this year. This sophomore class has combined for 45% of the team's goals, 52% of the assists and 50% of the team's total points this year.
Mazzei Earning His Wings
With a goal versus Michigan State on Dec. 3, sophomore John Mazzei matched his season goal total from all of last season with three and surpassed that total just two games later with a goal in the win over UConn. In his last five game the sophomore forward has recorded six points (2g, 4a).
Other Falcon Tidbits
• Sophomore Alex Foster has 32 points (5g, 27a) on the season in 19 games, one more then all of last season (8g, 23a) in 34 games. Speaking of Foster, his 27 assists this season is the most by a Falcon since Greg Day recorded 27 helpers during the 2000-01 season. If Foster were to hit 50 assists (which is what he is on pace for) it would be the most assists by a Falcon since Paul Ysebaert's 58 assists in 1986-87. A Falcon has only gone over the 50 assist mark six times in 37 years of Falcon hockey.
• Continuing with the Foster theme his 32 points this season is the most since Greg Day recorded 37 points in 2000-01. Foster, who is on pace for 63 points could become the highest Falcon scorer in 15 years when Nelson Emerson recorded 82 points back in 1989-90.
• Jonathan Matsumoto is currently on pace for 23 goals this season which would be the most by a Falcon since Ryan Murphy recorded 23 goals in 2000-01.
