Falcons Win Overtime Thriller 3-2 At Ferris State

Friday, March 9

Big Rapids, Mich. (CCHA Second Round)

7:05 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Ferris State

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

March 10, 2012 | Ice Hockey

The Falcons scored late to even the tilt 2-2, before defeating no. 2 Ferris State in overtime

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

BOXSCORE

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated Ferris State Friday night, dropping the Bulldogs 3-2 in overtime. Sophomore Cam Wojtala scored two goals in regulation, while freshman Ryan Carpenter netted the game-winning goal in overtime. Junior goaltender Andrew Hammond turned away a career-best 54-of-56 shots in the win, earning his first career win against Ferris State.

The Bulldogs lit-the-lamp first in the contest, netting a power-play goal just over eight minutes into the first period. Ferris State worked the puck around the Falcons' zone, before finding junior Kyle Bonis at the bottom of the far circle. Bonis fired a low snap shot past Hammond for his first 16^th goal of the season, giving Ferris State the early 1-0 lead. The Ferris State tally marked the only goal of the period, with the Bulldogs holding the 14-8 shot advantage going into the first intermission.

The Falcons finally broke through Ferris State goaltender Taylor Nelson at the 4:15 mark of the second period, evening the contest 1-1. Sophomore Jake Sloat accepted a pass from behind the net, before firing the puck on the Ferris State cage. Wojtala was positioned in front of the Bulldog crease, and was able to deflect the puck on the point shot. Wojtala's goal marked his ninth of the season, and 14^th of his career.

Hammond was spectacular between the pipes in the middle frame, stopping all 15 shots he faced, including a Ferris State breakaway. Nelson was solid for the remainder of the second period as well, sending both teams into the second intermission tied 1-1.

Ferris State came out on fire in the third period, and scored the go-ahead goal just 1:12 into the final frame. The Bulldogs fired a shot on the Bowling Green cage that hit a mass of bodies in the slot area, before taking a Ferris State carom. The puck landed on the stick of sophomore Garret Thompson, who buried his ninth goal of the season, giving Ferris State the 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs continued to press Bowling Green, outshooting the Falcons 17-5 in the final frame. Hammond stood tall however, shutting the door for the remainder of the period.

With just under three minutes to play in the game, Wojtala stole the puck behind the Ferris State cage, and sent it out front. The puck took a Bowling Green bounce, and found its way past the Ferris State netminder. The goal marked Wojtala's second of the game, and tied the contest 2-2 in the closing minutes of the period.

The action was back-and-forth in the overtime frame, as both teams registered 10 shots in the bonus period.

With 2:42 left in overtime, freshman Connor Kucera dumped the puck high off the glass into the Bulldog zone. Sophomore Chad Sumsion picked up the puck, and carried it behind the Ferris State net. Sumsion swerved towards the far circle, before sending a perfect pass to Carpenter at the hash mark. Carpenter fired the puck top shelf, beating Nelson for the 3-2 overtime victory.

Carpenter's goal snapped a nine-game goal drought, dating back to Bowling Green's 3-2 win over Notre Dame (Feb. 4). Wojtala's two-goal effort marked the first multi-goal game of his career, and snapped a four-game goal drought, dating back to the Falcons'4-3 win over Michigan (Feb. 24).

Hammond's 54 saves in the contest is a new career high, and fell two saves short of the Bowling Green record. Jordan Sigalet owns the Bowling Green record for saves in a game with 56, against Notre Dame in a 5-3 Falcon victory on Oct. 17, 2003.

The Falcons win snapped an eight-game losing streak to Ferris State, dating back to Feb. 14, 2009. The Bowling Green victory also marks the Falcons first victory at Ferris State since Nov. 10, 2007.

The win gives Bowling Green the 1-0 lead in the best-of-three set, and puts the Falcons one win away from clinching the series.

The Falcons are back in action Saturday night, in an encore match with the Ferris State. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.