Bowling Green State University
MIAMI
No. 10 Miami Squeaks Past BGSU, 3-2
January 31, 2009 | Ice Hockey
Jan. 31, 2009
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OXFORD, Ohio - Behind the strong play of senior Jimmy Spratt in goal and some timely goal scoring, the Bowling Green State University hockey team gave 10th-ranked Miami a scare in their series finale Saturday night at Steve Cady Arena. But, a pair of even-strength tallies by the RedHawks, less than three minutes apart midway through the final stanza, proved to be the difference in a 3-2 Miami victory and sweep of the weekend series.
The Falcons were outshot, 41-21, in the game, but used a pair of power-play goals, both in the second period, to take a 2-1 lead to the locker room prior to the final 20 minutes.
Spratt had 31 saves in the first 40 minutes to keep BG's hopes alive and a Brandon Svendsen goal at 9:21 and Josh Boyd's red-lighter at 18:33 gave the Falcons their edge heading into the third period.
The game started in BG's favor as within the first three minutes of the contest the Falcons had 46 seconds of a five-on-three and they had the same situation again for 38 seconds in the middle portion of the first stanza. BG did not convert on either man-advantage situation in a period that featured no scoring but six power-play opportunities between the two teams.
Spratt kept it a scoreless period with a couple point blank saves in the final minutes with Miami on the power play. The RedHawks had a 12-7 edge in shot for the period.
All the scoring in the second period was done on the power play as the teams combined for seven chances with the man-advantage in the second 20 minutes.
Svendson's goal, his ninth of the season, got it started as he beat Miami netminder Connor Knapp high to the stick side from between the circles as Kyle Page and Dan Sexton drew the assists. After Miami tied the game just over two minutes later, Boyd knocked home his third of the season from in front after Kevin Schmidt's shot hit the pipe and bounced out in front finding Boyd's stick. Sexton had an assist on the goal.
But, again it was the play of Spratt, who made 19 second-period stops, that kept the Falcons in the game.
Miami tied the game at the 8:43 mark of the third period on a goal by Kevin Roeder from inside the face-off dot to the left of Spratt and the game-winner came just 2:40 later as Alexandre Lacombe pushed a rebound past Spratt on the right side of the net after the Falcon netminder had made the save on the initial shot that came from the other side,
The Falcons still had a good chance to even the score when Miami was whistled for a five-minute penalty with 5:16 remaining. But, the Falcons did not get a shot on goal during the five-minute power play, a portion of which was played with the Falcons up two men after pulling Spratt for an extra attacker.
Spratt had 38 saves for the game while Knapp was credited with 19 stops. BG was two-of-eight on the power-play while Miami converted one-of-seven tries up a man.
With the loss, the Falcons fall to 9-16-3 overall and 6-13-1-0 in Central Collegiate Hockey Association play while Miami is now 16-8-4 overall and 14-5-3-1 in conference action. Miami has now won 10 straight at home in the series.
Bowling Green will make the long trip to Marquette, Mich., next weekend for a series against Northern Michigan with both games of the Friday-Saturday night series beginning at 7:35 p.m.
BG head coach Scott Paluch
"We were able to get to them for a couple power-play goals earlier in the game, but I think you saw a little bit of the wear and tear of the hockey game take its toll in the last five minutes of the game. It was hard to keep fresh legs out there towards the end of the game."
