Falcons Split Series Against Notre Dame With 3-2 Comeback Win

Saturday, February 4

South Bend, Ind.

7:05 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Notre Dame

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

February 04, 2012 | Ice Hockey

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

BOXSCORE

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 3-2 Saturday night, splitting the weekend series in South Bend. Freshman Ryan Carpenter netted two third period goals, while junior goaltender Andrew Hammond stopped 20-of-22 shots in the win.

Notre Dame dominated the first half of a penalty filled opening period, taking advantage of four power-play opportunities. The Irish scored the first goal of the game, tallying a power-play goal at the 10:28 mark of the period. Freshman Robbie Russo fired a shot from the point that beat Hammond high glove, giving Notre Dame the 1-0 lead. The goal marked Russo's fourth goal of the year, and fourteenth point of the season.

The Falcons responded seven minutes later, on a wrist shot from sophomore Cam Wojtala near the top of the circle. Wojtala accepted a cross-ice pass from freshmen Adam Berkle, and buried his seventh goal of the season to tie the game 1-1.

Notre Dame fired back with their second power-play goal of the night, just 2:50 into the second period. Sophomore Stephen Johns ripped a shot from the point passed Hammond for his fourth goal of the season, and sixth of his career.

Both teams were held off the score sheet for the remainder of the second period, giving Notre Dame the 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission.

Bowling Green pressured Notre Dame in the final period, outshooting the Fighting Irish 12-4 in the third frame. The effort paid off at the 5:17 mark of the third period, when Carpenter buried a cross-slot pass from sophomore Jake Sloat to tie the game 2-2.

The Falcons broke through Notre Dame goaltender Steven Summerhays for a third time with just under two minutes to play. Carpenter netted his second goal of the game, and eighth of the season to give Bowling Green the late 3-2 lead.

Hammond shut down Notre Dame for the remainder of the contest, including a last second glove save to preserve the 3-2 Falcon win.

Carpenter's two goal effort is a career high, and puts his season total at eight, passing sophomore Bryce Williamson (7) for the team lead.

Carpenter's goals snapped a personal 15-game goal drought, dating back to the Falcons 4-4 regulation tie against Miami (Nov. 19).

The last Falcon to score two goals in a game was junior Bobby Shea, in a 3-3 regulation tie against Western Michigan (Dec. 9) at the BGSU Ice Arena.

Bowling Green has split the last three weekends, securing wins against Alaska-Fairbanks, Western Michigan and Notre Dame. The three conference wins put the Falcons CCHA win total at four, passing last year's total (3).

The Falcon win snaps a six-game losing streak to Notre Dame, dating back to Nov. 5 of last year, when the Falcons defeated the Irish 3-2 at the BGSU Ice Arena.

The Falcons are now 9-16-5 overall, with a record of 4-14-4-3 in CCHA action. The loss drops Notre Dame's overall record to 16-11-3, with a record of 11-8-3-0 in conference play.

Bowling Green is back in action next weekend against Northern Michigan at the BGSU Ice Arena. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. both nights.