Bowling Green State University
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WESTERN MICHIGAN
Hockey Collects Second-Consecutive Overtime Win With 5-4 Win Over Western Michigan
November 03, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Nov. 3, 2007
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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Junior defenseman Kevin Schmidt tallied a new career-high three points, including the game-winner with just 1:15 remaining in overtime as the Bowling Green State University hockey team picked up a 5-4 win over the Western Michigan Broncos Saturday night at the BGSU Ice Arena. The win for BG was the second-consecutive win in overtime, a first since the 1987-88 season, as nine different Falcons contributed on the night.
With the win the Falcons improved to 3-2-0 on the season with a 2-1-0 mark in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. The Broncos fell to 2-4-0 and 0-2-0, respectively.
The victory for BG earned them their first series sweep since a two-game sweep of Ohio State (Jan. 6-7) during the 2005-06 season and first back-to-back overtime wins since a series sweep of Miami University (Oct. 30-31) during the 1987-88 campaign.
"The biggest thing we want to take out of this game is that it was a big win for us," said BG head coach Scott Paluch. "The overall product was a pretty good effort by our team. We manufactured our scoring chances and were solid throughout the game. Teams can score in this league and Western Michigan got their goals, but I liked the way we were able to make a big play in overtime. This is a real big sweep and really big weekend for us."
After BG led 4-0 after two periods of play, the Broncos answered with four-straight unanswered goals to send the game to the extra frame, concluding with forward Jeff LoVecchio's marker with just 10 seconds remaining.
However, despite the shift in momentum towards the WMU side, the Falcons came out and battled in the overtime session, out-shooting the Broncos 5-2.
It was there that Schmidt capped his career-night as he took a pass from Tomas Petruska and Todd McIlrath and beat Bronco goaltender Jerry Kuhn on a rush to the net to collect his second goal of the evening. For Schmidt, it was the first game-winning goal of his collegiate career as the Markham, Ont. native moved his season point total to six points in the game. The six points are just three shy of his career single-season high of nine, set last season.
Schmidt was also part of a Falcon first period that saw the brown and orange grab an early 2-0 lead going into the first intermission. Sophomore forward James Perkin started the scoring at the 13:07 mark of the period on the power play as his shot from right-wing side beat Bronco goaltender Riley Gill to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Senior Mike Nesdill and junior Tim Maxwell picked up assists on the goal. Just 2:08 later, Schmidt would give BG a two-goal cushion as freshman Jacob Cepis found him open cutting across the front of the net where he was able to slide a shot past Gill.
BG wouldn't slow down in the second period either as senior tri-captain John Mazzei and Cepis would both tally power play goals to stretch the Falcon lead to 4-0 heading into the game's final period.
BG would let things get interesting once again though, as they allowed the Broncos two quick goals to start the third period on the power play. Tyler Ludwig started the effort just 22 seconds in, while Jeff Pierce got WMU within two just 1:10 later.
Jonathan Lupa then brought the Broncos within one at 4-3, as his slap shot from the top of the left circle was able to beat BG goaltender Jimmy Spratt at the 7:35 mark of the third.
Spratt and the Falcons would hold tough till the end though, denying the Broncos a tying marker. However, with just 10 seconds remaining LoVecchio was able to get the puck past Spratt amongst a scramble in front to knot the game at 4-4.
The comeback effort wasn't enough though, as Schmidt's ovetime-winner notched WMU with their fourth-straight defeat.
Schmidt (2-1--3) ended the night tied for a game-high three points with Cepis (1-2--3), while Maxwell (0-2--2) and Mazzei (1-1--2) collected two points each.
Spratt picked up his first win of the season in the contest for BG making 18 saves on 22 Bronco shots. His counterparts Gill and Kuhn combined for 39 saves on 44 BG shots, as the Falcons held a 44-22 shot advantage in the game.
BG would end the night with a season-high three power play tallies going 3-9, while WMU ended the night 2-7.
Up next for the Falcons will be yet another CCHA clustermate, as they'll do battle with the Ferris State Bulldogs next Friday and Saturday at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. The games can be heard on WBGU 88.1 FM with Danny Nieves bringing you all the play-by-play.
