Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
5-2-2,3-0-0WCHA
Minnesota State
3-4-0,1-2-0WCHA
Falcons Fight Past No. 18 Minnesota State, 4-3
November 09, 2013 | Ice Hockey
Two short-handed goals propelled Bowling Green over the 18th-ranked Mavericks in a WCHA showdown.
BOXSCORE (PDF)
Audio: Dan DeSalvo | Adam Berkle
MANKATO, Minn. – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated the 18th-ranked Minnesota State University on Friday night (Nov. 8), by a score of 4-3. Playing in front of 3,349 fans at the Verizon Wireless Center, the Falcons (5-2-2, 3-0-0) saw four different skaters score goals, while sophomore goaltender Tommy Burke (3-0-2) turned away 30-of-33 shots.
Bowling Green got goals from Adam Berkle, Dan DeSalvo, Pierre-Luc Mercier and Brent Tate in a game the Falcons' scored two short-handed goals. The Mavericks (3-4-0, 1-2-0) outshot the Orange and Brown, 33-25, only to have the Falcons improved to 2-1-1 on the year when outshot in a game. Bowling Green also won their first road game of the 2013-14 season, helping them improved to 3-0 in conference for the first time since 1994-95.
The Mavericks (3-4-0, 1-2-0) took advantage of a Falcon penalty early in the first period, and scored the first goal of the game just 2:08 into the contest. MSU came out aggressive with the first five shots on goal in the contest.
Eventually, Minnesota State broke through the Falcon defense and got the game's first marker off a 2-on-1 rush. Sophomore forward Dylan Margonari found a cutting Teddy Blueger from the right circle and sent the puck past Burke, giving the Mavericks a 1-0 advantage.
However, Bowling Green quickly soared back, scoring their first marker in the tilt just 2:04 later. Mingo collected the loose puck off the boards and skated through the neutral zone. Mingo fired a quick pass in traffic to Tate, who awkwardly corralled the puck in a crowd of Maverick defenders in the left circle. Looking to pass the puck across the slot, Tate spun around a few defenders before sending a wrist shot past Mavericks' goaltender Stephon Williams while falling to the ice.
The Falcon goal tied the game at 1-all, as each team failed to score again in the first frame. Both teams had 10 shots on goal, as the Mavericks went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Bowling Green went 0-for-3 in the period.
Seemingly, the second period began much like the first. However, it was the Falcons that scored the first goal in the second frame. DeSalvo, who was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week, scored 2:06 into the frame. With an MSU power-play opportunity, DeSalvo created a turnover and raced towards the Falcons' attack zone. Skating at a full sprint, DeSalvo sent a wrist shot from the left circle for the Falcons' first short-handed goal of the season, giving Bowling Green a 2-1 lead.
The tally gave DeSalvo his third on the season, and has accounted for at least one point in the past five games. On the year, DeSalvo is tied for first on the Falcon roster with 11 points (3g, 8a).
Much like Bowling Green did in the first period, the Mavericks responded quickly. Only 51 seconds later, Minnesota State lit-the-lamp for the second time of the game to tie the contest at 2-2. Junior defenseman Zach Palmquist received the puck at the point and fired it into a scrum near the net. Burke made the initial save, but could not hold onto the puck. Senior forward Johnny McInnis collected the puck in front and jammed it past Burke with 17:03 remaining in the period.
The 18th-ranked Mavericks once again had a power-play opportunity four minutes later in the second period, only to find Falcons' junior forward Adam Berkle scoring the second short-handed goal on the night for the Orange and Brown.
Berkle created a Maverick turnover on the right side and skated through the neutral zone towards Minnesota State's goaltender. As Berkle appeared ready to fire the puck towards the net, Mavericks' goaltender lost control and fell to the ice. Berkle made a deke past the netminder and sent the backhanded shot into the net, giving Bowling Green their third goal of the game, and a 3-2 lead.
In a period that saw a total of four goals, the Orange and Brown got the last tally of the period at the 10:12 mark, extending their lead to 4-2. Forward Kevin Dufour wrapped around the net and sent a pass in front of the crease to find a waiting Mercier. The freshman tandem gave Bowling Green their largest lead of the game.
Minnesota State scored once more late in the third period to get within one goal, but could not recover from a two-goal deficit, dropping their second conference game of the season.
The Falcons will be right back in action Saturday night (Nov. 9), facing off against 18th-ranked Minnesota State in the second game of their two-game series. The puck is set to drop at 7:07 p.m. (CST) at the Verizon Wireless Center.
