Bowling Green State University Athletics
Bowling Green State University
8-8-3, 6-6-1
Michigan Tech
6-9-4, 4-4-3
Falcons Hold Off Huskies, 3-2
December 13, 2013 | Ice Hockey
Tommy Burke stopped a career high 39-of-41 shots, helping the Falcons improve to 5-1-3 on Friday night games.
Postgame Audio: Coach Bergeron | Tommy Burke
Photo Gallery (Michigan Tech Media Relations)
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated Michigan Technological University on Friday night (Dec. 13), dropping the Huskies by a score of 3-2 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association battle. Playing in front of 2,012 fans at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena, the Falcons saw two different skaters score goals, while Tommy Burke (6-1-3) turned away a career high 39-of-41 shots in the win.
The Orange and Brown improved to 5-1-3 in the first game of a weekend series, and handed Tech their first loss in six games. Bowling Green went 0-for-3 on the power play, while going 4-for-5 on the penalty kill in the winning effort. The Falcons were held to 18 shots on goal – their lowest total of the year—but held off the Huskies in a thrilling finish to earn the victory.
Bowling Green got a career-high two goals from freshman forward Kevin Dufour and Matt Pohlkamp chipped in with a goal of his own, helping the Falcons earn their first victory over Michigan Tech since Oct. 29, 1983.
Friday night's game started with an offensive surge from both teams, as neither goaltender gave in with multiple scoring chances. However, the Falcons would break the scoring drought with 8:15 left in the opening period, taking a 1-0 lead with an even-strength goal.
Bowling Green applied defensive pressure on the Huskies near the neutral zone, as Falcons' defenseman Mike Sullivan created a turnover. Sullivan brought the puck into Tech's zone and found Pierre-Luc Mercier near the half boards. The freshmen quickly sent a pass across center ice with Pohlkamp waiting near the left circle. The right-hander gathered the puck and sent a shot past Huskies' netminder Pheonix Copley for his fourth goal of the season.
With just over five minutes into the second period, the Huskies answered back to tie the contest, 1-1 with a power-play goal.
In the Falcons' zone, Tech fired a shot from the point, but the puck hit Huskies' Brent Baltus on the skate. Baltus quickly recovered and sent a touch pass towards Reid Sturos near the front of the crease. The freshman forward kept the Falcon defense guessing and sent a backhanded pass towards Ryan Furne for a one-timer. The shot found the back of the net, lighting the lamp for Tech's first goal of the game.
It appeared Michigan Tech was in control of the middle frame, outshooting the Falcons 19-2, but the Orange and Brown made the most of their opportunities and scored the go-ahead goal at the 15:40 mark in the middle frame. Dajon Mingo, who entered the night on a three-game scoring streak, took possession of the puck on the far side of the ice. The right-hander from Canton, Mich. found a skating Mark Cooper in the Huskie zone who then found Dufour near the Bowling Green bench. Dufour gathered the pass from Cooper and fired a slap shot that beat Copley for Dufour's second goal of the season.
Bowling Green once again took advantage of their limited chances at the net, lighting the lamp just 1:42 into the third period. Dufour found himself at the right place at the right time and doubled the Falcons' lead with 18:18 remaining in regulation, scoring his second goal of the night. The freshman grabbed a loose puck near the blue line during a line change and sent a wrist shot towards Copley. The puck split two Huskies' defenders and past Copley for a 3-1 lead early in the third period.
Michigan Tech scored once more at the 17:17 mark, but the goal proved to be too late as Burke upheld his career night, helping the Falcons win their sixth league game this season.
The win improved Bowling Green's record to 8-8-3overall, and 6-6-1 in league play. The loss dropped Tech's record to 6-9-4 and 4-4-3 in the WCHA. With the victory, the Falcons improved to 2-6-2 on the road and 2-1-0 in the month of December. The Orange and Brown now have 13 points in the WCHA.
The Falcons have a quick turnaround, hitting the ice again tomorrow night (Dec. 13), facing off against Michigan Tech in the second game of their two-game road series. The puck is set to drop at 7:07 p.m. at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena.
