Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
FERRIS STATE
Hockey Completes Sweep Of Ferris State With 3-1 Victory
November 10, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 10, 2007
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - Derek Whitmore tallied his first-career hat-trick while birthday-boy, Jimmy Spratt, stopped 30 of 31 shots as the Bowling Green State University hockey team picked up their fourth-straight victory with a 3-1 win at Ferris State. The Saturday night contest was held at FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 5-2-0 on the season and 4-1-0 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. With the loss, FSU fell to 4-5-1 and 3-3-0, respectively.
In the victory, the Falcons completed their first sweep over the Bulldogs in a two-game set since March of 2001. It also marked the first time the Falcons have swept two-consecutive CCHA series since 2001 and the first time the Falcons have picked up a CCHA road-sweep since beating Miami in a two-game sweep in the first-round of the 2001 CCHA playoffs.
"It was just another outstanding effort from our team," said BG coach Scott Paluch. "We were able to really play through a lot of momentum swings from Ferris State and keep the game close, and then play an outstanding third period. It was big weekend for our team."
The two teams played a tight first period that saw each team tally 11 shots on net, as both teams created good scoring opportunities throughout the first 20 minutes. Physical play dominated the opening period and just as things looked as though they'd be evened up at the intermission, Whitmore was able to knock in his first of the night on a pass in front. Brandon Svendsen added the helper as the Falcons took an early 1-0 lead with just 52 seconds remaining in the period.
The marker seemed to give BG the edge going into the dressing room, but misfortune would strike for the Falcons at the start of the second. A tripping penalty against the Falcons would give FSU a power play to start the second period and they wouldn't waste the opportunity. Justin Lewandowski tallied his second goal of the weekend to tie the game at 1-1, as Jim Jorgensen and Adam Miller tallied the assists.
FSU would take command of the play during the period, out-shooting BG 16-8 for the second stanza. Spratt would keep the Bulldogs frustrated however, as he and his defensive unit did a great job all night of getting sticks and bodies on shots to keep FSU off the scoreboard. The Falcons held FSU to just a single power play marker on their three second period chances.
BG would capitalize on their strong defensive play by going a perfect 2-for-2 with the man-advantage in the final period. Just like the night before, Whitmore would add two power play goals to his credit, as the Rochester, N.Y. native tallied the 50th and 51st goals of his BG career to turn the game in BG's favor.
Whitmore's second goal came much like the first, where the senior tri-captain once again got nice positioning near the front of the net. This time it was John Mazzei and Jacob Cepis adding the helpers at the 7:07 mark of the period as Whitmore pounded the puck past Bulldog goaltender Mitch O'Keefe to give BG a 2-1 lead. The senior would finally cap the scoring with his team-leading eighth goal of the season then with just 5:29 remaining.
Like the previous two, the third goal came via some good positioning in front of net, as Mazzei once again tallied an assist on the play. After Kevin Schmidt took a blast from the point, Mazzei was able to catch the shot in mid-air and put it on Whitmore's stick on a double-tip in front. Whitmore was then able to put it behind O'Keefe from the left-side of the crease to give the Falcons a two-goal lead heading into the final minutes.
That lead would be more than adequate as Spratt and the defense held FSU scoreless on just four third period shots, as BG held off a late empty net attack by the Bulldogs. The effort has the Falcons off to their best CCHA start since the 1994-95 season when they also started 4-1 in league play.
The Falcons would finish the night 2-4 on the power play, while FSU finished 1-7.
Spratt helped BG earn their second-consecutive win when being out-shot as well, as FSU finished with a 31-28 advantage in shots on net. Spratt made 11 saves in the first period and 15 in the second period on way to earning his second win of the season on his birthday.
BG will return to action on Nov. 16-17 when they host CCHA opponent, Northern Michigan, in a two-game conference set. All the action can be heard on WBGU 88.1 FM with Danny Nieves bringing you all the play-by-play action.
