Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
MIAMI
BG Loses Series Opener In Miami
January 30, 2009 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 30, 2009
OXFORD, OHIO - Miami scored five unanswered goals and added a stifling defense that limited the Bowling Green State University hockey team to just eight shots on goal over the final 40 minutes in recording a 6-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association victory at Steve Cady Arena Friday night.
Miami opened the scoring 5:22 into the game as junior Gary Steffes picked up a misplayed puck by BG sophomore goalie Nick Eno behind the Falcon goal and wrapped the puck around the left post before Eno could get back between the pipes.
BG evened it up on a sensational individual effort by sophomore Dan Sexton at 11:35 as he picked up the puck in BG's zone and beat the Miami defense up the right side to skate in alone on Miami goalie Connor Knapp beating him low to the stick side. Freshman Nick Bailen and Eno picked up the assists on BG's lone goal of the game, a power-play tally.
Miami then took the lead for good at 14:38 as Carter Camper beat Eno with a shot from in front between the circles after picking up the puck at the blue line on a pass from Justin Mercier. It would turn out to be the game-winner and the first of the five unanswered goals.
The Falcons were outshot, 13-9, in the first period, but it was the best offensive period of the game for the Falcons as they would have problems generating any consistent offense in the final two periods.
The Falcons managed only three shots on goal in the second period and Miami scored the only goal of the stanza on the power play with 3:23 remaining as Jarod Palmer knocked in a loose puck in front after an Eno save.
Three different Miami players scored in the final period, one those goals a short-handed tally at the 8:52 mark that made it a 4-1 game, and the other two goals even-strength tallies. Miami has now won 11 of the last 12 meetings with Bowling Green.
BG had one shot on goal in the final two periods from within the space from the face off dots to the goal. They also managed just one shot on goal in their six power-play opportunities, the shot that became their only goal.
Miami, the 10th-ranked team in the country, was also one-for-six on the power-play. The RedHawks had a 33-17 edge in shots for the game with Knapp credited with 16 stops while Eno made 27 saves in only his second start of the season.
With the win, Miami is now 15-8-4 overall and 13-5-3-1 in the CCHA while the Falcons fall to 9-15-3 overall and 6-12-1-0 in league play. The two teams will complete the series Saturday evening with a 7:05 contest in which the Falcons will look to put an end to a nine-game losing skid on the road in the series.
BGSU head coach Scott Paluch
"Mentally we just didn't finish the game off strong. Physically, we stayed with them. Miami is too good a team and they took advantage."
"There was a lot of strange goals, bouncy goals, that would be hard to explain without seeing them on film."
"Unfortunately, in a game like this, we took too many penalties."
(on the special teams) "There was too much (special teams play) for us. That is not the kind of game we want to play. When we have to play that kind of game it forces us to play the same players and it doesn't give us a chance to get through our lineup, which I think is a strength of our team."
(on getting more shots Saturday night) "I think we need to shoot more pucks. We had some possession at times and we passed up some shots. I would like to see a little more possession down low. And, I hope to see more five-on-five play."
