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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
ALASKA
Hockey Falls 3-1 To Nanooks
February 12, 2006 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 12, 2006
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -
The Bowling Green State University hockey team dropped a heart-breaker Saturday night in Fairbanks, Alaska, falling 3-1 to the Nanooks of Alaska Fairbanks. Freshman Jimmy Spratt recorded a career-high 36 saves in the loss.
"They [UAF] are a good hockey team, there is no question about that," said head coach Scott Paluch. "It was a terrific college hockey game, where both teams worked hard, they just made the plays don the stretch to win the game."
The Nanooks came out firing early, but Spratt was up to the challenge, denying back-to-back doorstop shots just two minutes into the opening period.
Sprat (4-8-0) came up big again just three minutes later moving from his left to right with an excellent blocker save at the 5:00 minute mark. Spratt, along with UAF goaltender Chad Johnson each pitched a shutout the first 20 minutes.
BGSU (13-18-1, 8-15-1 CCHA) was first to end the scoreless streak after senior Brett Pilkington picked up a rebound off a shot from captain Don Morrison for his seventh goal of the season. Sophomore Alex Foster also assisted on the first goal of the contest.
Alaska Fairbanks (13-13-4, 9-12-3 CCHA) knotted the score at one apiece six minutes later after a BGSU turnover resulted in an open shot for Braden Walls, who fired it glove-side past Spratt.
Despite out-shooting UAF 14-8 in the second period the Falcons would be unable to score.
In the third UAF held a 19-7 shot advantage, but for the most part were unable to get any great scoring chances. BGSU, on the other-hand had the best chance of the game after Mike Falk was hauled down after skating past UAF's Nathan Fornataro.
With the Falcons on the power play Pilkington fired a shot on Johnson with Unger nearly deflecting the puck past Johnson. Seconds later BGSU was called for a slashing the goalie penalty.
UAF then scored at the 15:53 mark in the third for the eventual game-winner.
BGSU pulled Spratt for the final 42 seconds and got several opportunities to tie the score before UAF's Walls scored his second of the game with just 11 seconds remaining.
On the night UAF held a 39-31 shot advantage. Both teams went scoreless on the power play; Bowling Green (0-for-4), UAF (0-for5).
Up next for the Brown and Orange is a pair of home contests with Notre Dame (Feb. 17-18). Both contests are set for 7:05 p.m. inside the BGSU Ice Arena.
