Falcons Push Series To Final Game With 5-3 Victory

Saturday, March 3

Marquette, Mich. (CCHA First Round)

7:35 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

Northern Michigan

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

March 04, 2012 | Ice Hockey

The Falcons came back from being down 3-1 to earn the win against Northern Michigan

By: John Enright-Athletic Communications

BOXSCORE

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated Northern Michigan Saturday night, beating the Wildcats 5-3 at the Berry Events Center. Freshman Dan DeSalvo scored twice for the Falcons, while goaltender Andrew Hammond stopped 30-of-33 shots in the win.

Similar to Friday night's contest, the Falcons came out on fire, scoring the game's first goal just 32 seconds into the first period. DeSalvo collected the puck and carried it into the Northern Michigan zone, before firing a shot past Wildcat goaltender Reid Ellingson. The goal marked DeSalvo's sixth of the season, and gave Bowling Green the early 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats responded at the 4:07 mark of the opening period, when sophomore Steven Vigier tipped home his 13^th goal of the year on a shot from the point, evening the contest 1-1.

Northern Michigan continued to pour on the pressure, adding another goal with just over a minute left to play in the opening frame. Senior Justin Florek knocked in his 19^th goal of the season after a scramble in front on a Wildcat power play, giving NMU the 2-1 lead.

The Wildcats would add another tally just two minutes into the second frame, after the puck took a Northern Michigan bounce in front of the Bowling Green cage. The puck landed on the stick of junior Matt Thurber, who rammed home his 11^th goal of the season, and pushed the score to 3-1 in favor of the Wildcats.

The Falcons refused to give up, and started their comeback with a tally from Perrier at the 3:54 mark of the second period. Perrier fired a shot from the point that beat Ellingson for his third goal of the season, and pulled the Falcons within one.

Bowling Green continued the comeback, scoring another goal at the 8:47 mark of the second period to tie the contest. Sullivan fired a wrist shot from the high slot that just caught the inside of the post, beating Ellingson for his first career goal.

With the momentum on their side, the Falcons scored a third-straight goal. DeSalvo caught a long outlet pass out of the Falcon zone, and snuck past the Northern Michigan defense. DeSalvo skated in and beat Ellingson on the backhand for his second goal of the game, and seventh of the season with just under a minute remaining in the second period.

With five seconds remaining in the second period, Vigier broke into the Falcon zone, where he was taken down from behind by the Bowling Green defense. Vigier was awarded a penalty shot, giving the Wildcats a chance to even the game. Vigier skated in, and was denied by Hammond, preserving the Falcon 4-3 lead heading into the second intermission.

The Wildcats outshot Bowling Green 11-5 in the final frame, but were unable to solve Hammond for the remainder of the contest. Sophomore Bryce Williamson scored an empty net goal, giving Bowling Green the 5-3 win, tying the best-of-three series 1-1.

The win improves the Falcons' overall record to 11-22-5, while the loss drops Northern Michigan's record to 17-13-6 overall.

DeSalvo's two-goal effort is the first multi-point game of his career, giving him three goals in the past two games.
Berkle's two-assist night marks his fifth multi-point game of the season, and gives him four points in the opening series.

The Falcons' five-goal effort Saturday is the most Bowling Green has scored in a game all season. The last time Bowling Green scored five goals was Nov. 26, 2010 against Alabama-Huntsville (5-1).

The Falcons are back in action Sunday night, in the final game of the opening round of the CCHA playoffs. The puck drops at 7:35 p.m.