Falcons Fall 4-1 To Alaska-Fairbanks

Saturday, January 21

Fairbanks, Alaska

11:05 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Alaska

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

January 22, 2012 | Ice Hockey

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

BOXSCORE

FAIRBANKS, Alaska. -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team could not complete the sweep of the Nanooks in Fairbanks Saturday night, falling to Alaska 4-1. Freshman Adam Berkle scored the lone goal for the Falcons, while junior goaltender Andrew Hammond stopped 18-of-21 shots in the loss.

The Falcons came out flying in the opening frame, breaking through Nanook senior goaltender Scott Greenham early. A long clearing attempt from junior Max Grover eventually found the stick of freshman Dan DeSalvo, who carried the puck in on a two-on-one break. DeSalvo fed Berkle on the right hash mark, and the Pennsylvania native snapped a shot past Greenham for his third goal of the season.

The Nanooks responded at the 10 minute mark of the opening frame, capitalizing on a Falcon turnover in front of Hammond in the slot. Nanook Sophomore Cody Kunyk stole a break-out pass in the middle of the Falcon zone, and deked out Hammond for his ninth goal of the season.

Hammond and Greenham held strong for the remainder of the frame, sending both teams to the locker room deadlocked in a 1-1 tie.

Alaska struck early in the second period, beating Hammond just 41 seconds into the stanza. Nanook sophomore Colton Beck fired a shot on the Falcon net, finding Kunyk in front for the tip. The goal marked Kunyk's second of the game, and gave the Nanooks the 2-1 lead.

The Nanooks struck again in the second period, netting an even strength tally at the 9:03 mark of the frame. Senior Carlo Finucci wristed his fourth goal of the season past Hammond, giving Alaska the 3-1 lead.

The Nanooks added an empty net goal in the closing minute of the third period to secure the 4-1 Alaska victory.
Berkle's first period goal extended his current point streak to a career-high three games.

The Bowling Green loss Saturday night is only the third time this season this Falcons have lost a contest after scoring the first goal. The Falcons are now 7-3-2 when scoring the first goal of the game.

Grover's assist on the lone Falcon goal marks his first point of the season, giving all Bowling Green skaters at least one point this year.

The loss drops the Falcons' overall record to 7-14-5, with a record of 2-12-4-3 in CCHA action. The win puts the Nanooks' record at 8-12-4 overall, with a record of 5-11-4-2 in conference play.

The Falcons are back in action this Friday night on the road against Western Michigan. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.