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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
UConn
Whitmore's OT Goal Lifts Falcons, 2-1
October 13, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 13, 2006
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Junior Derek Whitmore scored just 46 seconds into overtime to give the Bowling Green State University hockey team a 2-1 win over the University of Connecticut to open the 2006-07 season. The contest, which was held inside the BG Ice Arena, is the Falcons first home opening win since the 1999-2000 campaign.
"I think it's a good start for us," said head coach Scott Paluch. "We told our guys this is a fun game to play and make a play. I think we made some terrific plays down the stretch. Then Svendsen almost won that game with no time left on the clock, and Whitmore had the good stick there in the end. It's a big win for us, no question about it."
With a new season brings new players and the Orange and Brown saw six newcomers see their first game action as Falcons. Making their first career start with BGSU were Kyle Page, James Perkin, Tim Maxwell, Kai Kantola, Tomas Petruska and Todd McIlrath. Phil Greer, a freshman netminder also dressed, but did not see action.
Preseason CCHA Second-Team member Jonathan Matsumoto got the Falcons on the board first with a coast-to-coast goal just 42 second into the second period. Junior John Mazzei assisted on the goal.
The Huskies looked to have knotted the score at 1-1 minutes later when the puck found the back of the BGSU net, but with the new CCHA rule in place the goal was reviewed and disallowed after the replay showed the puck was knocked into the net with a UConn hand.
UConn finally did even up the score after Matt Scherer wristed the puck past sophomore goaltender Jimmy Spratt for the only blemish of the night for the Chesterfield, Michigan native.
With no scoring in the third period the Falcons came out determined to walk away with the win. Just 14 second into overtime Matsumoto was left alone between the circles for a wrister, but UConn's Scott Tomes stoned him with a glove save.
The Falcons continued to rain shots down on Tomes (recording six shots in the 46 seconds of overtime) and forced the Huskies to ice the puck. On the ensuing faceoff, Matsumoto slid the puck to Tim Maxwell, who fired a shot, while Whitmore picked up the rebound and slammed home the game winner. Seconds later the entire Falcons' bench was celebrating in front of the student section.
"We actually called a face-off play that we have been working on," said Whitmore. "Fortunately enough it worked. Tim [Maxwell] was able to walk out. I just used some of my hockey sense and went to the net, and found a nice puck laying there for me to tap in."
On the night both power play teams were blanked. UConn was held in check three times, while the Falcons went scoreless on six occasions.
Tomes stopped 30-of-32 shots, while Spratt moves to 1-0-0 on the year with 16 saves.
Up next for the Falcons is a Sunday (Oct. 15) tilt with Alabama-Huntsville at 2:05 p.m. inside the BG Ice Arena.
