Bowling Green State University
Lake Superior State
Lakers Upend Falcons, 4-2
January 28, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 28, 2006
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Bowling Green State University hockey team dropped a 4-2 decision Saturday night to Lake Superior State University. With the game tied at two apiece the Lakers scored two early third period goals in a span of 1:15 seconds to down the Falcons.
The loss drops the Falcons to 12-16-1 overall and 8-13-1 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, while Lake Superior improves to 14-7-5 overall and 10-7-3 in conference.
"I was pleased with everything the guys did," said head coach Scott Paluch. "We just allowed Lake Superior to make the one big play to win the game."
BGSU had a new look, shaking up all four lines in hopes of adding a spark to the lineup. The shake-up seemed to work as Brett Pilkington got open between the circles on the opening shift of the night, but much like the night prior, LSSU goaltender Jeff Jakaitis slammed the door.
The BGSU offense continued to show enthusiasm and energy drawing a penalty at the 7:11 mark and again at the 9:08 mark of the first. The Falcons had several outstanding chances, including a point-blank shot by Mike Falk, but the BGSU power play was unable to convert and eventually surrendered a short-handed goal at the 10:36 mark of the first for the opening goal of the game.
The new look included changes on both power play units, helping the Falcons to their first goal of the night. Senior Don Morrison dumped the puck into the LSSU zone, while sophomore Jonathan Matsumoto gave chase. Matsumoto came away with the puck in the corner, turned and fired the puck over to classmate Derek Whitmore who slammed home the goal for a 1-1 tie at the 8:18 mark of the first.
"One thing we wanted to have was a new spark and enthusiasm," said Paluch. "We were going to go after things a bit differently on the forecheck. I wanted a new look with the lines and add some excitement to the lines to add a spark to the forecheck, and I think we got that."
With the first period complete the two teams continued the deadlock for the first 10 minutes of the second. BGSU picked-up back-to-back penalties within 18 seconds of each other spotting the Lakers a 5-3 power-play opportunity, resulting in a goal and a 2-1 Laker lead.
Freshman Brandon Svendsen struck back with a short-handed goal of his own at the 11:11 mark of the second. With the Falcons attempting to kill a Laker power play, Svendsen intercepted a pass at the top of the point and skated in all alone on the LSSU cage. Coming down the right side the freshman fired a wrister just over the glove of Jakaitis, off the crossbar and in. The sound rang throughout Taffy Abel Arena, knotting the score at two apiece.
Two early third period goals spelled disaster for the Falcons just 4:35 into the third, handing the Lakers a 4-2 advantage. The Falcons fired nine shots in the last 15 minutes but could not solve the Lake Superior netminder.
For the game both teams fired 34 shots and both teams converted on 1-of-5 power-play chances for the night.
Up next for the Falcons is a one game showdown with RIT, scheduled for Saturday, February 4 inside the BGSU Ice Arena. The non-conference action is set to begin at 5:05 p.m.
