Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
FERRIS STATE
Icers Fall 2-1 To Ferris State
February 16, 2007 | Ice Hockey
Feb. 16, 2007
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Bowling Green State University hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision Friday night to the Ferris State Bulldogs, despite sophomore Jimmy Spratt's career-high 42 saves on the night.
"It was another tight battle," said BGSU head coach Scott Paluch. "Despite the 30 shots we weren't able to create enough offense to be successful. Our ineffectiveness on the power play hurt us again. We just couldn't get to the offensive plays."
The Falcons out shot the Bulldogs 14-13 in the first period with the help of two power-play opportunities, but neither team was able to solve the opposing goalie as the two teams entered the second period, knotted at 0-0.
Ferris State hit two posts on their third shift of the second period and the Falcons answered back with a post of their own four minutes later when Michael Hodgson rang a wrister of the right post, but the game remained scoreless.
The goal posts finally stopped getting in the way as Aaron Lewicki beat sophomore Jimmy Spratt stick side at 8:18 of the middle period. It would be the only goal scored in the first 40 minutes of action.
The post continued to lend the Falcons a helping hand as Matt Verdone rang a shot of the right post just 20 seconds into the final stanza to keep the score at 1-0, but just a minute later the Bulldogs recorded a power-play goal to stretch their lead, 2-0.
BGSU looked to have cut the lead in half when Kai Kantola grabbed a rebound while on the power play, but Derek MacIntyre slid to his right and stoned the freshman midway through the final period.
The Falcons continued to push into the FSU lead, but were once again unable to convert, as Derek Whitmore rang a shot off the crossbar as the Falcons returned to full-strength (7:51 mark of the third).
The persistent Falcons finally solved the FSU netminder at 13:53 when Derek Whitmore attempted a pass to Kai Kantola, but deflected the pass off a FSU defender into the back of the Bulldog cage. Jonathan Matsumoto and Kevin Schmidt assisted on the 5-on-3 power-play goal.
BGSU was awarded one final power-play attempt with 1:30 remaining in the game and even with Spratt on the bench for an extra attacker, the Falcons were unable to convert on the opportunity, falling 2-1.
For the game Ferris State held a 44-30 shot advantage. BGSU went 1-for-10 on the power play, while the Bulldogs scored once on six attempts with the man advantage.
Spratt made 42 saves in the loss, while MacIntyre had 30 saves in the win. In his last five starts Spratt owns a 2.19 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage. "I thought Jimmy [Spratt] was spectacular," said Paluch. "He did everything he could to allow us the chance in the end."
These same two teams will do it again tomorrow night. Opening face-off is set for 5:05 p.m.
