Bowling Green State University
Michigan
#18 Hockey Falls, 3-2, To #3 Wolverines
December 08, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Dec. 8, 2007
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Michigan forward Brandon Naurato tallied a power-play goal with just six seconds remaining in the second period to help the #3 Wolverines down the #18 Bowling Green State University hockey team, 3-2, on Saturday night (Dec. 8). The Central Collegiate Hockey Association contest was held at U-M's Yost Ice Arena.
With the win, the Wolverines improved to 16-2-0 on the season and 11-1-0 in the CCHA, dropping the Falcons to 8-6-0 and 5-5-0, respectively.
Freshman forward Jacob Cepis tallied a career game-high two goals in the losing effort for the Falcons, while senior forward John Mazzei tallied two assists. BG freshman goaltender Nick Eno made 25 saves on 28 shots, falling for just the second time in his career.
"It was a similar type game to last night - closely contested and I was proud of the way our team was able to come back after getting down 2-0 in a real tough venue to play in," said BG coach Scott Paluch. "We stuck with it and got ourselves in a position to get into the third period, 2-2, but we gave up the late goal that proved to be the difference. I was proud of the way our team played and competed. It's frustrating in the fact that we came away empty, but we had two really good games back-to-back against a real good hockey team and I'm proud of the way our guys played all weekend."
BG would come out strong to start the game, holding a 9-7 edge in shots on net for the first period. A costly power play mistake would cost them though, as U-M got the game's first tally short-handed. Wolverine freshman forward Matt Rust stole a cross ice pass and would take it all the way down the ice, back-handing the puck past Eno to make it 1-0 just 3:42 into the game.
The Wolverines then extended their lead to 2-0 at the 12:21 mark as the Falcons surrendered their first power-play goal in six games, after killing-off 23-straight power plays against them. U-M senior forward Kevin Porter found a space between Eno and right post underneath Eno's left arm pit for his league-leading 18th goal of the season. His hard lazer from the top of right-wing circle hit the twine at the back of net with pin-point accuracy after he took a nice setup pass from defenseman Chad Langlais.
Despite the early setbacks, the Falcons had their chances to score in the period. The best may have come from a hard rebound shot in the left circle by freshman forward Patrick Tiesling. After Tommy Dee took a shot just to the left of Tiesling that hit Wolverine goaltender Bryan Hogan's pad and bounced back out, the Rhinelander, Wis. native fired it right back and got the puck to sit inside the crease for a few brief seconds before the Wolverines were able to clear any chance at a tip in.
For the second time in as many nights, the Falcons found themselves trailing heading into the first intermission and for the second night in a row, they'd make a comeback. Trailing 2-0 entering the second 20 minutes of play, the Falcons caught a break early and found themselves on a 5-on-3 power play just 1:43 into the period. That would be where Cepis struck for his first goal of the evening and fifth of the season. Senior forward Derek Whitmore got the puck to Mazzei, who found Cepis just inside the right circle, who proceeded to fire a hard shot past Hogan to bring the Falcons within one at 2-1.
Just like Friday as well, the goal gave the Falcons new life and new energy, which they'd use to tie the game up less than 10 minutes later. A Wolverine turnover deep in the BG zone found the stick of Mazzei, who fired a hard shot on net. The shot would bounce off Hogan's pad and find the blade of Cepis, who, at the time, was cutting hard to the net. He proceeded to flip the puck in from the right side of the crease for his second goal of the night and sixth of the season, as BG tied the game at, 2-2, just 12:10 into the frame.
Eno held tough in net, making key stops to keep the game even. His effort included a save on short-handed breakaway chance by Porter that ended up drawing a Falcon penalty.
But just when it looked like Eno and his teammates may dodge a bullet towards the end of the period on another U-M power play, the Wolverines' struck with a big-time blow. BG failed to clear the puck out of their zone with 10 seconds remaining in the period as Steve Kampfer collected the puck and fired it over to Carl Hagelin, who found Naurato wide open on the right-side of the slot for a power-play goal with just six second showing on the clock.
The goal proved to be a back-breaker for the Falcons as they just couldn't mount another comeback. Eno once again kept them close making another breakaway save to keep the game close in the final minutes, but despite having a 6-on-4 power play with the empty net late, BG just couldn't get the puck in the Wolverine cage.
BG would end the night 1-9 with the man-advantage, while the Wolverines finished 2-6.
Hogan made 20 saves for the Wolverines on 22 shots as UM held a 28-22 edge in the shots on net for the contest.
BG will next return to action in 20 days when they head to Madison, Wis. for the Badger Showdown (Dec. 28-29), hosted by the University of Wisconsin. The Falcons will face-off with the #12 Northeastern Huskies in game one of the tournament on Dec. 28 from the Kohl Center, before taking on Colgate or Wisconsin in their second game. Both tilts can be heard by tuning into WBGU 88.1 FM with Danny Nieves and Tim Baughman bringing you all the play-by-play.
