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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
ALASKA
Svendsen's Late Goal Gives Falcons Win Over Alaska
October 25, 2008 | Ice Hockey
Oct. 25, 2008
Fairbanks, Alaska - Bowling Green State University senior forward Brandon Svendsen's goal with just over three minutes left gave the Falcons a 1-0 win over Alaska in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both teams Friday night.
The two teams battled in an evenly played game for more than 56 minutes without a goal before Svendsen slid one past Nanook goalie Chad Johnson from between the circles after sophomore Dan Sexton won a battle for the puck against the boards to the left of the UAF goal and put his pass right on Svendsen's stick for his third career game-winner, the first since his freshman season. It was Svendsen's third goal of the season.
Both teams had numerous excellent scoring opportunities throughout the game, but time after time Johnson and Falcons netminder Jimmy Spratt were equal to the task. Spratt had to make 30 saves to earn the first shutout of his career, including a pair of point-blank saves in the first period when the Nonooks had an 11-7 edge in shots.
The Falcons had a 12-6 edge in shots and had the best chances in the second period. Junior forward Todd McIlrath had a shot bounce off the post early in the period, and Sexton was turned away by Johnson on a breakaway with just over eight minutes gone in the period.
It looked like the momentum might swing to the side of Alaska in the third period. The Nanooks took a pair of minor penalties 18 seconds apart giving the Falcons a five-on-three advantage. But, the Falcons managed just two shots with the advantage and the game stayed deadlocked.
Then after the Falcons scored, Svendsen took a minor penalty with 1:03 remaining and with Alaska pulling their goalie for a two-man advantage the BG defense stood tall allowing only one shot on goal over the final seconds.
Both teams finished the game with 30 shots. The Falcons struggles on the power-play continued coming up empty in eight man-advantage situations while Alaska had five opportunities with the manpower edge.
With the win, BG improves to 2-2-1 while Alaska now has the same mark. The win marked the first time since the 1998-99 season the Falcons opened league play with a victory. The two teams meet again Saturday night in Fairbanks with the opening face-off at 11:05 (eastern time).
The Falcons, who have won the last two games in the series on the road, last captured a 1-0 decision in CCHA play on March 2, 2001 when BG took a 1-0 overtime decision from Ferris State.
"I thought for a 0-0 hockey game, for a majority of the game, there were some terrific chances," BGSU head coach Scott Paluch said. "Both goalies were outstanding. I thought it was a tremendously well-played game by both teams and we were fortunate to come out with the win.
"Tonight was about as even a hockey game all the way across the board. Both teams had terrific chances, both teams had some terrific transition chances, and both goalies were outstanding."
"My teammates made a great play down low and I had plenty of time to get my head up and get a good look," senior Brandon Svendsen said about the game-winner. "There was a lot of traffic in front of the net, a good screen, and it happened to go in."
