Saturday, February 19
Bowling Green, Ohio
7:05 p.m.
Bowling Green State University
2
vs
3
Northern Michigan
Falcons Give All for Senior Class; Fall Short Against NMU
February 20, 2011 | Ice Hockey
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- In the final home game of the 2010-11 season where Bowling Green hockey brought in its second largest home crowd of the season and honored its four graduating seniors, the Falcons put on quite the show Saturday night. The battle between Northern Michigan University and the Falcons went back and forth but in the end the Wildcats prevailed, 3-2.
Box score (.html) | Box score (.pdf) | Updated statistics (.html)
Post game press conference audio (.mp3) -- Ryan Peltoma | Chris Bergeron
Post game press conference video -- click here!
Saturday night photo gallery -- click here!
The combination of Phil Fox and Justin Florek burned Bowling Green for a total of five points. Fox scored twice, including the game winner and Florek put in assists on all three NMU goals. Though the Falcons scored first, the Wildcats celebrated with the game-winning goal, scoring it at 3:35 of the second period.
Both Bowling Green goals were scored off of turnovers deep in opposing territory. The Falcons scored first just 1:22 into the opening frame when Ryan Peltoma (Brainerd, Minn.) took advantage of a NMU defenseman falling to the ice, leaving the puck open for the taking in the neutral zone. The sophomore acquired the puck, drove down the slot and caught NMU goaltender Reid Ellingson leaning before beating him glove-side with a backhand shot for the opening goal.
Fox scored the first of his two goals near the thirteen minute mark later in the first when Florek set him up for a shot from just outside of the far faceoff circle. Fox's goal, his tenth of the season, was scored at 13:02 of the first period. Northern Michigan took the lead just 1:46 later when Greger Hanson scored a power-play goal following Ian Ruel's high-sticking call shortly after Fox's score. Hanson received a pass from Scott MacCaulay in the slot and backhanded his fifth goal of the year.
The Falcons and Wildcats swapped goals within the first four minutes of the second period. Bowling Green freshman Bryce Williamson (Seba Beach, Alberta) scored his second goal of the season benefitting from a second turnover deep in the NMU zone. Williamson acquired the loose puck at the near post and with a turnaround wrist shot tied the game at two goals apiece.
Not wasting any time after Williamson's goal, Fox rang the bell once again this time for the eventual game-winning goal. Florek once again fed him a pass into the slot where Fox then caught BGSU goaltender Nick Eno (Howell, Mich.) leaning and guided the puck into the cage to give Northern Michigan a 3-2 lead.
With time winding down, Bowling Green intensified their attack on Ellingson though the Wildcat keeper answered the call. Of BGSU's ten third-period shots on goal, Ellingson saw six of those in the final 1:34 while the Falcons put out an extra skater. Bowling Green threw on nine shots in those final 94 seconds, including one final attempt by Ryan Viselli (Windsor, Ontario) outside of the near faceoff circle before time expired, but to no avail.
The Falcons outshot Northern Michigan for the second straight night, 28-19, in the loss. In his final game in the BGSU Ice Arena, Nick Eno stopped 16 shots on 19 attempts against. His goaltender counterpart, Reid Ellingson, made 26 saves on the night.
Eno was one of four seniors recognized prior to the start of Saturday night's contest. Teammates Andrew Krelove (Thunder Bay, Ontario), Wade Finegan (Toronto, Ontario) and captain David Solway (Green Bay, Wisc.) were honored for their years of dedication and service to the Falcon hockey program as a part of the Senior Night festivities.
Bowling Green (8-22-4, 3-19-4-2) now prepare for next weekend's regular season finale at Michigan State next weekend. Friday's 7:35 p.m. game will be aired on Fox Sports Detroit (FSD), where available. Saturday's game, also serving as head coach Rick Comley's final game in East Lansing, will begin at 7:05 p.m.
Full coverage of Falcon hockey and all 18 varsity sports can be found on the official online home of BGSU athletics, www.BGSUFalcons.com. Be sure to follow the Falcons on Facebook by searching “BG Warriors” or follow them on Twitter through www.twitter.com/WEAREBGHOCKEY.
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