Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Travel Up North For A Pair With #19 Lake Superior
January 24, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 24, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -
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GAME #28-29
BGSU vs. #19 Lake Superior
Jan. 27-28 (Taffy Abel Arena, 7:35/7:05 p.m.)
RECORDS: BGSU 12-14-1, 8-11-1 CCHA // Lake Superior 12-7-5, 8-7-3 CCHA
RADIO: WBGU-FM (88.1) - Andy Evans
SERIES: BGSU leads, 67-55-7
LAST MEETING: BGSU W, 2-1 (Oct. 30, 2004)
The Falcons head to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, this weekend (Jan. 27-28) for a pair of road contests with Lake Superior State. Friday night's contest is set for 7:35 p.m., while Saturday's game starts at 7:05 p.m.
The Series With Lake Superior
The Falcons own a 67-55-7 (.551) all-time series advantage over LSSU. Last season the two teams split a weekend series in Bowling Green, Ohio, with Lake Superior winning on Friday (5-1) and the Falcons capturing a 2-1 win the following night. In the last nine meetings the two teams have gone 3-3-3, with two 0-0 ties.
Take Me To Your Leader
Sophomore Alex Foster is currently first in the country with 32 assists and is just one point behind Scott Parse (UNO) for the overall lead in points with 40. He also ranks second with 1.19 helpers per game and fifth with 1.48 points per contest. Foster was named CCHA Offensive Player of the month in November (4g, 14a) and has scored a point in every game but five this season.
Foster + Matsumoto = Dynamic Duo
Entering this weekend the sophomore duo of Alex Foster (8g, 32a) and Jonathan Matsumoto (14g, 21a) have combined to score 22 goals and 53 assists in just 27 games this season. This duo, that is averaging .815 goals per game, 1.96 assists and 2.81 points per game, is the second-best pair in the country with 75 points.
1. Brett Sterling (40)/Marty Sertich (36) have 76 points (CC)
2. Alex Foster (40)/Jonathan Matsumoto (35) have 75 points (BGSU)
3. Scott Parse (41)/Bill Thomas (34) have 75 points (Nebraska-Omaha)
4. Jamie Hunt (37)/Dave Borrelli (33) have 70 points (Mercyhurst)
5. Joe Pavelski (33)/Robbie Earl (30) have 63 points (Wisconsin)
Falcons Snap 12-Game Winless Streak Versus Michigan
It was a long time coming, but last Saturday the Falcons ended a 12-game losing streak to Michigan with a 5-2 victory over the Wolverines. The win was the first for any current Falcon, including head coach Scott Paluch. The last time the Falcons had recorded a win over UM was back on Jan. 25, 2002. In the win sophomore Derek recorded three points (2g, 1a), while senior Brett Pilkington matched his career-high with four assists. Also of note, the Falcons fired 49 shots on net, the most since November 24, 2001, at Lake Superior when BGSU fired 51 shots in a 3-2 loss.
Offense, Offense and More Offense
The Falcon offense ranks fourth in the country and second in the CCHA with 3.70 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 nine lamp lighters in the win over UConn back on Dec. 30. They have also scored five goals three other times this season. In terms of goals scored the Falcons are led by Jonathan Matsumoto (14), Mike Falk (12), James Unger (11), Derek Whitmore (11), and Alex Foster (8).
Falcons Have Played A Tough Schedule
Fourteen of the 27 games the Falcons have played this season have been against team's ranked in the top-20 of the USCHO.com poll at the time they faced them. BGSU has already faced #4 Boston College, two games with #2 Ohio State, two games with #9 Miami (now #3), Two with Northern Michigan (#20), two more games with #16 Ohio State and just last week they played a pair of contests with #6 Michigan. They also have one game apiece with #14 Clarkson, #12 St. Lawrence and #12 Colgate. In those 14 games the Falcons are 6-7-1.
Whit-More Goals The Falcons Win
Since December 10, sophomore Derek Whitmore has recorded eight goals in the past 11 games, most among the team. Matsumoto (6) and Unger (4) rank the top three in the past 11 games. Since the St. Lawrence contest the Falcons are 6-0 in games where Whitmore has scored. He has 11 points (8g, 3a) in that span including multiple goal games versus St. Lawrence and Michigan. He has 16 points (10g, 6a) in his last 16 games, after posting only one point in his first seven games this year.
The Power Play Streak Is Snapped
The Falcons entered last Friday's contest with Michigan, having scored a power-play goal in 11 straight games, 15 total in 63 tries (.238). The Falcons went 0-for-6 on the night, snapping the streak. The following night BGSU answered back with three power-play goals in their first four attempts, going 3-for-6 on the night, beginning a new streak. On the year Jonathan Matsumoto leads the bunch with eight power-play goals, but he is joined by James Unger (6), Derek Whitmore (6), Mike Falk (5), and Alex Foster (3).
Falcons Are 5-3 In 2006
The Falcons have had a strong start to 2006, going 5-3 overall and 4-3 in conference action. Since the jump to `06 Brett Pilkington has led the team with 11 points (3g, 8a), with Derek Whitmore (5-3-8), Alex Foster (3-5-8), James Unger (3-4-7), Jonathan Matsumoto (2-5-7) and Don Morrison (1-6-7) each contributing in a large way for the new year.
Falcon Road Warriors?
After starting the season 0-5-1 on the road the Falcons have won three of their last four contests away from the BGSU Ice Arena. They claimed a 9-2 win at UConn, a 3-2 thriller at Ohio State, and just recently captured a 5-2 win at Kalamazoo versus Western Michigan. In their last four road contests the Falcons are averaging 4.5 goals per game, while allowing just 3.0 goals. The BGSU power play is 5-for-24 (.208) the last four contests, while the penalty kill has been stellar, going 19-of-21 (.905).
Fast Starts = Falcon Wins
That first goal of the game has been a major factor this season for the BGSU hockey team. In games where the Falcons score first they are 9-4-0, but when they surrender the opening goal they are only 3-10-1. In fact, they are 5-3 in the CCHA when they score first, but only 3-8-1 when a fellow CCHA opponent scores first.
Paluch Knows How To Play With A Lead
Continuing with the fast start theme, when the Falcons claim a 2-0 advantage this season they are 8-1 on the year. Their wins include UNO (7-3), Northern Michigan (8-4), St. Lawrence (6-4), UMass (3-2), UConn (9-2), Clarkson (4-0), Ohio State (2-0) and Michigan (5-2). Their lone loss came versus Clarkson (6-4) a game they at one point led 3-0. In games where the Falcons claim that 2-0 advantage they have scored a total of 48 goals (5.33 per game), while surrendering only 23 goals (2.56 per game).
These Times They Are A-Changin'
For the past four seasons Michigan and Ohio State were 20-1-1 versus Bowling Green, with the only Falcon win coming in 2002 against Michigan (4-2). This year, BGSU won the season series with the Buckeyes, going 2-1-1, while splitting with Michigan, 1-1. For the year the Falcons walked away with seven of a possible 12 points versus these two squads and a 3-2-1 record.
If This House Is Rockin'...
On Saturday 4,989 fans packed the BGSU Ice Arena and saw the Falcons claim a 5-2 victory over the Wolverines. The 12th largest crowd in school history was the largest fan base the Ice Arena has seen since Nov. 16, 1996 when 5,016 fans saw the Falcons tie Michigan 3-3. In fact, the Falcons were only 32 fans shy of the largest crowd in school history set back on Dec. 2, 1995 (5,021).
Paluch Pushes The Offensive Limit
In head coach Scott Paluch's first season the Falcons recorded only 94 goals (2.6 per game) in 36 contests. This season the Falcons have scored 100 goals (3.70 per game) in just 27 games. That is an improvement of 70% in three-plus seasons under Paluch.
• Paluch's first season (2002-03) at BGSU his leading scorer was D'Arcy McConvey with 29 points in 36 games. This season the Falcons have five players that are on pace to score more then 29 points.
Pil-KING-ton
In his last nine games senior Brett Pilkington has been the king of assists, recording 11 helpers in that span. Combined with his three goals Pilkington has 14 points in the last nine contests. The senior from Calgary, Alberta, recorded only nine points in his first 17 games this year. Last Saturday night the senior recorded four assists in the 5-2 win over Michigan, matching his career-high set last season versus Michigan State.
A-"PLUS" For Nesdill
Sophomore Mike Nesdill ranks 14th in the CCHA with a plus-9 rating this season. After starting the season with an even plus-minus rating through his first 12 games, the sophomore defensemen is plus nine in his last 13 games. In those 13 games he has been at least a plus-1 in seven of those games, including a career-high plus-3 in the win over UConn. Two weeks ago he finished with a plus-3 rating in the two games versus Ohio State. Other Falcons with impressive plus-minus ratings include Jon Ralph (+5), Rich Meloche (+3) and Ben Geelan (+3).
