Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
5-3-2,3-1-0WCHA
Minnesota State
4-4-0,2-2-0WCHA
Falcons Drop 1-0 Decision To No. 18 Minnesota State In OT
November 10, 2013 | Ice Hockey
Freshman goaltender Tomas Sholl turned away 24-of-25 shots in the losing effort.
BOXSCORE (PDF)
Audio: Tomas Sholl | Mike Sullivan
MANKATO, Minn. – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team lost to18th-ranked Minnesota State University on Saturday night (Nov. 9), falling to the Mavericks 1-0 in overtime. Playing in front of 3,657 fans at the Verizon Wireless Center in the second game of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association road series, the Falcons were shut out for the first time this season, dropping their first WCHA game of the season.
It marked the first time the Orange and Brown failed to score in a losing effort since Oct. 26, 2012 when Bowling Green lost a 1-0 decision to Ohio State University. The Falcons' played well on the defensive end, going a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, while holding the Mavericks to 25 shots.
Freshman goaltender Tomas Sholl turned away 24-of-25 shots in the game, including some spectacular saves down the stretch to keep the Orange and Brown alive in the hard-fought battle in the losing effort.
Bowling Green came out firing early on in the first period, outshooting the Mavericks 12-4 through the first 20 minutes of action. The Falcons got two power play opportunities in the first period, but only had three shots on goal to finish 0-for-2 in the frame.
The Orange and Brown had opportunities to break the scoreless tie in the opening frame, but could not capitalize. The Falcons had one of their best chances all night when senior captain Cam Wojtala received a pass from junior forward Adam Berkle, and made a nice touch pass through his legs to find Brent Tate on the right side of the crease. However, Mavericks' goaltender Cole Huggins made a nice save to prevent the game's first goal.
The defensive battle continued in the second period, as each team failed to solve the other goaltender. Going toe-to-toe on the ice, both Minnesota State and Bowling Green failed to take advantage on the limited chances offensively over the period.
Falcons' freshman Pierre-Luc Mercier, who scored his third goal of the season last night, had a chance midway through the period. The puck took an awkward bounce off the board, and ricocheted right in front of the crease. Mercier quickly reacted and sent a one-timer towards the net, only to have Huggins make a glove save.
With five minutes remaining in the second period, the Mavericks appeared to finally break the scoreless drought. A shot was fired from the high slot in which Sholl made the initial save. Shortly after, the officials' whistle blew, only to have the puck squirt loose and past the goal line. The officials' ruled no goal, keeping the two teams scoreless.
Neither team would budge over the final frame, as each team could not solve the mystery that sat between the pipes for the first marker of the game. The Mavericks had the best chance in the final minute of regulation. A Maverick forward created a turnover and broke free of the Falcon defense. Sholl, however, came up huge with a tough save to send Bowling Green to overtime.
Fighting for the only goal that mattered in the game, the Mavericks scored 1:11 into overtime, avoiding a Falcon sweep over the weekend.
The loss drops Bowling Green's overall record to 5-3-2, with a record of 3-1-0 in WCHA action. The win improves Minnesota State's record to 4-4-0, with a record of 2-2-0 in conference play.
The Falcons will be back on the road next week in Big Rapids, Mich. to take on the Ferris State University Bulldogs at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Bow ling Green will continue their WCHA conference schedule, taking on the Bulldogs. The puck is set to drop at 7:07 p.m.
