Late Falcon Charge Halted; Lose 2-1 to Michigan

Thursday, February 4

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:05 PM

Bowling Green State University

Michigan

Junior netminder, Nick Eno (above) stopped 28 shots in Thursday night's 2-1 loss to the Michigan Wolverines.

February 04, 2010 | Ice Hockey

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Dennis Williams post game audio
Nick Eno post game audio
Box score

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The Bowling Green Falcons returned to cluster play Thursday night when the Michigan Wolverines came to the BGSU Ice Arena for a rare Thursday-Tuesday weekday series. Michigan, ranked 19th by USCHO.com, took advantage of a major Bowling Green penalty twice in the first period and it was all they needed to recorded a victory over the Falcons.

Nick Eno (Jr., G) took his place between the posts and made 28 total saves on the night following a weekend where he stopped 46 shots combined against Western Michigan two weekends ago. Unfortunately, two shots that made the difference in the game both came in the first period while the Wolverines were on a five-minute power play courtesy a Bowling Green major penalty.

Skating down the ice on a near breakaway, Brennan Vargas (So., F) was tripped up on his way to the net then put into the boards by a Michigan defenseman. Following the play, Tommy Dee (Sr., F) was given a five minute major penalty for checking from behind and a game misconduct at 9:47 in the first period. In addition, David Solway (Jr., F) and UM forward Chris Brown were slapped with coincidental penalties for roughing. After all was said and done, the Falcons faced a five-on-four disadvantage.

Michigan struck first blood when on the ensuing power play Steve Kampfer took a shot at Eno which bounced off the junior's pad and back out into traffic. The bounce went straight out to Matt Rust who from outside of the far post finished the job and put the puck past Eno for the game's first score at 12:05 in the first period.

With the major penalty still in effect, the Wolverines continue the power play and 1:11 after their first score, U-of-M rang the bell again. Moving the puck around in the Bowling Green zone, Louis Caporusso and Kampfer set up Chris Brown for a well-aimed shot at Eno, zooming it by the Falcon goaltender. From the near side faceoff circle, Brown received Caporusso's pass and took his time making his mark count for the game's second tally, increasing the lead to two goals for Michigan.

Bowling Green's Tomas Petruska (Sr., F) halved the Wolverine lead in the 15th minute with an even-strength goal, his eighth goal of the season.

On the Bowling Green attack, Solway rounded the Wolverine cage and put a hard shot from the far post on Michigan goaltender Bryan Hogan. The shot rebounded off of Hogan's pad and straight into the blade of Petruska. After circling around with the puck and stationing himself inside the far faceoff circle, Petruska swiped the puck and lit the red light with the Falcon score. At 15:50, the score favored Michigan but only by a 2-1 mark.

Following the BGSU score, Hogan remained perfect for the remainder of the game, saving the following eight Falcon shots on goal.

Neither team could replicate any scoring in the next two periods of play, as each team locked down on defense without giving their opponent many opportunities to score. Bowling Green put only seven shots on goal in the second and third periods. Eno gave his team a chance at a comeback after stopping 20 Michigan shots during the same timeframe.

With time winding down the Falcons had a prime opportunity to finish the game strong when UM's Lee Moffie was called for boarding with three minutes remaining in regulation. Bowling Green went on the power play for the next two minutes and would have an extra skater on the ice for nearly 2:30 of the remaining time on the clock following the penalty. With a face off coming in the Michigan zone and thirty seconds remaining on the man advantage, Bowling Green decided to pull Eno out of the net and give them a six-on-four opportunity for the game-tying score.

The Wolverine special teams unit held strong and killed the remaining time on the power play, allowing only one shot during that time. Bowling Green missed on a lucky bounce off of the boards when the puck was cleared and bounced back out in front of the net, catching Hogan off-balance and leaving the net wide open with a bouncing puck out in front. Unfortunately, nobody from either team was home and Hogan scrambled to his feet and covered the loose puck. After the Wolverines cleared the puck out of their zone on the ensuing faceoff, it prompted Eno's return to the net until ten seconds hit the clock. Eno returned to the bench while the final ten seconds ticked away but the Falcons could not come up with the goal needed to extend the game. The final score read Michigan 2, Bowling Green 1.

After the two goals stemming from the five minute major penalty in the first period, Bowling Green killed the next four Michigan power plays on the night. Bowling Green finished the night 0-for-5 on the power play.

Michigan improves to 16-12-1 overall (11-9-1-0, CCHA) after the win Thursday night and will continue their trek to Camp Randall, Wisc. where they will play the University of Wisconsin in an outdoor game on Saturday afternoon. They will then return to Ann Harbor, Mich. to host the Falcons next Tuesday (Feb. 9) night in the Yost Ice Arena.

Bowling Green moves to 4-19-4 on the season (3-14-4-3, CCHA) after Thursday night. With the weekend off, they will prepare for their series finale against Michigan next Tuesday. Drop of the puck is set for 7:35 p.m. EST. Follow the Falcons on the online home of Falcon Athletics, www.bgsufalcons.com