Falcons Fall 4-1 To Western Michigan

Friday, January 27

Kalamazoo, Mich.

7:05 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Western Michigan

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

January 27, 2012 | Ice Hockey

Second period flurry dooms Falcons, as Western Michigan scored 3 goals in six minute stretch

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

BOXSCORE

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team dropped a 4-1 decision to Western Michigan Friday night, thanks to three straight goals from the Broncos in the second period. Senior Cameron Sinclair scored the lone goal for the Falcons, while junior goaltender Andrew Hammond stopped 29-of-32 shots in the loss.

The Broncos controlled a large portion of the play in the first period, outshooting the Falcons 17-6 in the opening frame. Hammond made several key stops for the Falcons, including two cross-ice saves on shots right in front of the net. Bronco freshman goaltender Frank Slubowski stopped all of the Falcons opportunities as well; sending both teams into the first intermission deadlocked in a 0-0 tie.

Western Michigan opened the scoring in the second stanza, netting a power-play goal at the 9:20 mark of the period. Junior Dane Walters slid a low snap shot past Hammond at the bottom of the right circle for his eleventh tally of the season, and twenty-second goal of his career.

The Broncos tallied again roughly four minutes later, scoring an even-strength goal at the 13:29 mark of the period. Senior Greg Squires knocked home his third goal of the season on a rebound in front, giving the Broncos the 2-0 lead.
Western Michigan struck again with 4:44 left to play in the second, on a wrist shot from Walters at the top of the circle. The tally marked Walters second goal of the game, and gave the Broncos a 3-0 lead.

Bowling Green finally broke through Slubowski with just over three minutes left to play in the second period. Freshman Marcus Perrier carried the puck behind the Bronco net, and threw it on Slubowski from a sharp angle. The puck took a Falcon bounce, and landed on the stick of Sinclair in the slot. Sinclair buried the shot for his fourth goal of the season, cutting the Western Michigan lead to 3-1.

Slubowski stood strong for the remainder of the contest, as the Broncos' Shane Berschbach would add an empty-net goal to give Western Michigan the 4-1 win.

Sinclair's goal ended a personal seven game goal drought, dating back to the Falcons 4-1 loss to Michigan State (Dec. 3, 2011).

Freshman Adam Berkle was held off the score sheet, ending his three-game point streak.

The loss drops the Falcons' overall record to 7-15-5, with a record of 2-12-4-3 in CCHA action. The win improves the Broncos' record to 13-9-5 overall, with a record of 10-6-3-3 in conference play.

The Falcons are back in action Saturday night, in the second half of the home-and-home series against Western Michigan at the BGSU Ice Arena. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.