Falcons Lose 4-1 in Skirmish With Beavers

Friday, December 30

Bemidji, Minn.

8:35 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Bemidji State

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

December 30, 2011 | Ice Hockey

By: Everett Fitzhugh - bgsufalcons.com

BOXSCORE
Ted Pletsch Audio
Coach Bergeron Audio

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision to the Bemidji State University Beavers Friday night at the Sanford Center. Junior Andrew Hammond, who took the loss (6-11-3), stopped nine of 13 shots before being pulled at the start of the third period in favor of sophomore Scott Zacharias. Freshman Ted Pletsch scored the lone goal for the Falcons at the 14:48 mark of the second period.

The Falcons dominated the majority of the first period, outshooting the Beavers 12-2 in the first eight minutes of play. The first of many crucial turnovers committed by the Falcons led to the game's first goal however, when Bowling Green turned the puck over after winning the faceoff in the defensive zone. Bemidji sophomore Radoslav Illo gathered the loose puck and fired it past Hammond from the bottom of the slot for his fifth goal on the season at the 17:12 mark of the first period.

The Beavers would strike at the 42 second mark of the second period, as junior Aaron McLeod capitalized off of a Bowling Green turnover deep in Falcon territory. McLeod put a nice move on Hammond beating him low glove side for the game's second goal, and McLeod's sixth of the year.

Turnovers would continue to be a problem for Bowling Green, as Bemidji senior Drew Fisher intercepted a pass on the goal line, turned around and fired an off angle shot through traffic. The puck found a way past Hammond for Fisher's third goal of the season at the 14:16 mark of the second period.

The Falcons would not be deterred, as Pletsch picked off a pass at the Beaver blue line and walked in unopposed to the near side faceoff circle. The Michigan native fired a wrist shot that deflected off the crossbar and in past Beaver goaltender Andrew Walsh for his second of the year at the 14:48 mark of the second period.

That would be all the offense the Falcons could muster, as the Beavers put the game out of reach with ten seconds remaining in the second period. Junior Beaver Ben Kinne fired a wrist shot from the point past Hammond for his seventh goal of the season to down Bowling Green 4-1.

The loss drops the Falcons' record to 6-12-3 overall, while Bowling Green's conference record stays the same at 1-11-2-1. The win puts Bemidji over the .500 mark at 10-9-2, while the Beavers' conference record remains 5-7-2.

The Falcons look to salvage a split when they take the ice tomorrow night (Saturday 12/31) in game two of this weekend series at 8:07 p.m. eastern.

Notes:
-The loss marks Bowling Green's first defeat at the hands of a non-conference opponent.
-Bowling Green outshot Bemidji 27-19.
-Friday's game marked only the second time this season Hammond has been pulled. The first came back on Nov. 5 in a 5-3 loss to Ferris State.
-The Falcons are 0-11-2 when failing to score the first goal.
-The Falcons have not had a regulation win since Nov. 12, against Canisius.