Peltoma Finishes Off Chargers With OT Ringer

Friday, October 22

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:05 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Alabama Huntsville

Ryan Peltoma (above) has his first career goal in overtime, helping the Falcons to a 5-4 win over the UAH Chargers.

October 22, 2010 | Ice Hockey

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The BGSU Falcon hockey team allowed a game-tying, power-play goal late in the third period to the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers but was not deterred from gaining their second victory of the season in overtime. Ryan Peltoma (Brainerd, Minn.) fired the game-winning goal just 28 seconds into the overtime period to give Bowling Green earn a hard-fought 5-4 win, Friday night.

Box score (.html) | Box score (.pdf) | Updated season statistics (.html)
Post game video with Chris Bergeron and Ryan Peltoma | Day 1 photo gallery
Post game audio (.wma) - Chris Bergeron | Ryan Peltoma
Game line charts (.pdf) - Bowling Green | Alabama-Huntsville

BGSU opened up quickly in the overtime frame but it took only one shot off the stick of Peltoma to decide the game. After he took a cross-ice pass from freshman Camden Wojtala (Trenton, Mich.), Peltoma set up shop and fired a laser over UAH goaltender Clarke Saunders' right shoulder to bring home the "W". The goal was Peltoma's first of his career.

The sophomore defenseman was not finished with just a goal in the contest. Peltoma also recorded a secondary assist on the Falcons' last of three unanswered goals to open the first period. He finished with two points on the goal and assist en route to the first multiple-point night of his career.

Wade Finegan (Toronto, Ontario) began the success the Falcons had while playing five-on-five with the game's opening goal in the seventh minute of action. On a rebound off a shot from Brennan Vargas (Coon Rapids, Minn.) the bounced off the pillow of Charger goaltender Clarke Saunders, Finegan crashed the net with speed and nearly from his knees flicked the puck into the goal for a 1-0 lead. Also assisting on the goal was defenseman Max Grover (Kentwood, Mich.) for his first assist of the season.

The Falcons added to their lead mid-way through the thirteenth minute when Bobby Shea (Harrison Twp., Mich.) touched the puck up the ice to Mike Fink (Minnetonka, Minn.) for a shot wide of the net. However, freshman Andrew Wallace (Bedford, Nova Scotia) was there for the wide open put back and his first collegiate goal. The assist to Shea marks his first point as a Falcon.

David Solway (Green Bay, Wisc.) also put his number into the scoring column as the recipient of a pass out in front of the net from Marc Rodriguez (Aurora, Ill.). The senior captain caught Saunders out of position between the posts and had a wide open net to net his second goal of the season and give the Brown and Orange a 3-0 lead. The Falcons' third goal was scored only 1:22 after their second score.

Alabama-Huntsville got on the board shortly after the Falcons took the three-goal lead when an unselfish defensive play by Peltoma turned into a Charger goal. Defenseman Tom Durnie made his way into the Falcon zone and put a shot toward the BGSU net but Peltoma dove in front of the puck for a successful block. As Peltoma rose from the ice the puck became momentarily lodged in his uniform but fell from his sweater to remain in play. Jamie Easton was the first to the loose puck and scored from between the faceoff circles to make a 3-1 score at the tail end of the first period.

Fink netted his first goal as a Falcon just before the three-minute mark of the second period when a shot by Grover took a bounce in front of the Charger cage. Traffic built in front of the net and when the horns sounded, Fink stood with his first collegiate goal after knocking the puck in, also extending the lead to 4-1 in favor of the Falcons.

Bowling Green's penalty kill unit faltered Friday evening, allowing three power-play goals on five UAH power plays. Two such goals were scored following after the ten-minute mark of the second period. The Chargers scored three unanswered goal in the second and third periods to tie the game, including two from Jamie Easton. UAH tied the game at four at 16:26 in the third period on Easton's second power-play goal of the game.

With a 4-4 tie heading into the last two minutes of regulation, Bowling Green turned up the offensive pressure on the Chargers. The Falcons ended regulation working on a 4-on-4 sheet after penalties on both teams less than 17 seconds apart. Bowling Green got four shots off before the horn sounded, putting two shots on Saunders for saves. The Falcons then came out onto the power play seconds before Peltoma's game-winning score.

The Falcons remained unsuccessful on their own power play, ending the evening 0-for-5. They now have not converted on their last 20 chances with a man advantage. Alabama-Huntsville, on the other hand, succeeded while on the power play, converting 3-of-5 chances against the Falcons.

Falcon goaltender Nick Eno (Howell, Mich.) stopped 19-of-23 shots against, despite allowing four goals in his second straight outing.

Bowling Green (2-3-0) will host Alabama-Huntsville (1-4-0) once again on Saturday (Oct. 23) night at 7:05 p.m. as part of a full day athletic events. Falcon football hosts Kent State University at Doyt Perry Stadium at 3:30 p.m. and while BGSU hockey finishes their series with UAH, the Falcon volleyball team hosts Ball State at Anderson Arena (Bowling Green, Ohio) with their special “Pink Out” promotion ongoing. Follow all the action via your online home for Falcon Athletics, BGSUFalcons.com.