Bowling Green State University Athletics
Saturday, November 8
Fairbanks, Alaska
11:07 P.M.
Bowling Green State University
7-2-1, 5-1-0WCHA
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Alaska
5-5-0, 0-4-0WCHA
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Bowling Green
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Alaska
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Photo by: BGSU Marketing and Communications
Falcons Edge Alaska, 3-2, To Earn Weekend Sweep
November 08, 2014 | Ice Hockey
Tommy Burke saved all 17 shots faced in the third period to help the Falcons earn four points over the weekend.
Fairbanks, Alaska – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated the University of Alaska on Saturday (Nov. 8) night, earning a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) weekend series sweep with a 3-2 triumph over the Nanooks. Playing in front of 2,578 fans at the Carlson Center, Bowling Green got goals from Ben Murphy, Matt Pohlkamp and Mark Cooper, while Tommy Burke (3-1-1) turned away 36-of-38 shots on the night.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 7-2-1 (5-1-0 WCHA), and dropped Alaska to 5-5-0 overall (0-4-0 WCHA). In addition, the Orange and Brown took all four points over the weekend, and now has 10 points in league standings. The weekend sweep marked the second time the Falcons have swept a WCHA opponent this season, and now has a 5-1-1 record on the road.
"We came up to Alaska and gave ourselves an opportunity to win two games and that's what we did," head coach Chris Bergeron said.
The Falcons came out flying in the opening period, netting the game's first goal at the 2:12 mark. Cooper – who tallied his first goal of the season in last night's 3-2 triumph – started the play, taking a turnover from the Nanooks and quickly sent a pass through the neutral zone to find Murphy's stick. The 6-0, 200-pound junior forward from Duxbury, Massachusetts skated into Alaska's zone and fired a low shot past Alaska's starting goaltender Davis Jones, giving the Orange and Brown an early 1-0 lead.
The Falcons continued to apply offensive pressure in the opening frame, doubling their lead with a goal at the 18:02 mark. Sophomore forward Kevin Dufour, who entered the night with a nation-leading nine goals, found a skating Pohlkamp on the far side near the circle. Pohlkamp gathered the pass and sent a wrister past Jones' outstretched glove to give Bowling Green a 2-0 lead.
 The Falcons also had a strong defensive period, killing off all four of Alaska's power-play opportunities throughout the first 20 minutes. Burke turned away all five Nanook shots while a man down, including an impressive pad save on a redirection, preventing Alaska from scoring.
"I thought our penalty killers did a nice job tonight," Bergeron said. "We were able to right the ship and not take any more penalties after the first period."
The Orange and Brown's offensive surge carried over to the second period, extending their lead once more just 1:40 into the middle frame.
The Falcons worked the puck around the blue line before finding Dajon Mingo at the point. The junior defenseman gathered a pass from Murphy and fired a shot towards Jared Larson – who replaced Davis in the second period.  With a screen in front, Cooper re-directed the puck found the back of the twine to extend BGSU's lead to three.
With Cooper's goal in the second period, the now-junior forward has tallied one goal in each of his four games at the Carlson Center – dating back to his freshman year in 2012-13.
Trailing 3-0, Alaska scored two quick goals in 42 second to cut Bowling Green's deficit to within 3-2. The Nanooks got back-to-back goals from Marcus Basara (11:51) – who scored in Friday night's affair –, and from junior centerman Tyler Morley (12:33) in the middle frame.
"Alaska kept fighting hard. They came hard in the second period," Bergeron said.
Entering the final 20 minutes of action leading by one, the Falcons turned to their defense to earn a weekend sweep over Alaska. The Nanooks applied pressure offensively throughout the entire frame, placing 17 shots on Burke. However, Burke turned away every shot he faced in the period and earned his third victory of the season.
Alaska outshot the Falcons on the night, 38-30, but the Falcons relentless defensive showing in the third period helped lift the Orange and Brown past the Nanooks. The Orange and Brown went 0-for-2 on the power play, while killing off a perfect 4-for-4 power play chances for UAF.
The Falcons will be back in action next weekend (Nov. 14-15) in a home-and-home series against the Ohio State University Buckeyes in a non-conference showdown. The Orange and Brown will host the Buckeyes on Friday, Nov. 14 at 8:07 p.m. before heading south to play in the second game of the two-game series at the Value City Arena.
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With the win, the Falcons improved to 7-2-1 (5-1-0 WCHA), and dropped Alaska to 5-5-0 overall (0-4-0 WCHA). In addition, the Orange and Brown took all four points over the weekend, and now has 10 points in league standings. The weekend sweep marked the second time the Falcons have swept a WCHA opponent this season, and now has a 5-1-1 record on the road.
"We came up to Alaska and gave ourselves an opportunity to win two games and that's what we did," head coach Chris Bergeron said.
The Falcons came out flying in the opening period, netting the game's first goal at the 2:12 mark. Cooper – who tallied his first goal of the season in last night's 3-2 triumph – started the play, taking a turnover from the Nanooks and quickly sent a pass through the neutral zone to find Murphy's stick. The 6-0, 200-pound junior forward from Duxbury, Massachusetts skated into Alaska's zone and fired a low shot past Alaska's starting goaltender Davis Jones, giving the Orange and Brown an early 1-0 lead.
The Falcons continued to apply offensive pressure in the opening frame, doubling their lead with a goal at the 18:02 mark. Sophomore forward Kevin Dufour, who entered the night with a nation-leading nine goals, found a skating Pohlkamp on the far side near the circle. Pohlkamp gathered the pass and sent a wrister past Jones' outstretched glove to give Bowling Green a 2-0 lead.
 The Falcons also had a strong defensive period, killing off all four of Alaska's power-play opportunities throughout the first 20 minutes. Burke turned away all five Nanook shots while a man down, including an impressive pad save on a redirection, preventing Alaska from scoring.
"I thought our penalty killers did a nice job tonight," Bergeron said. "We were able to right the ship and not take any more penalties after the first period."
The Orange and Brown's offensive surge carried over to the second period, extending their lead once more just 1:40 into the middle frame.
The Falcons worked the puck around the blue line before finding Dajon Mingo at the point. The junior defenseman gathered a pass from Murphy and fired a shot towards Jared Larson – who replaced Davis in the second period.  With a screen in front, Cooper re-directed the puck found the back of the twine to extend BGSU's lead to three.
With Cooper's goal in the second period, the now-junior forward has tallied one goal in each of his four games at the Carlson Center – dating back to his freshman year in 2012-13.
Trailing 3-0, Alaska scored two quick goals in 42 second to cut Bowling Green's deficit to within 3-2. The Nanooks got back-to-back goals from Marcus Basara (11:51) – who scored in Friday night's affair –, and from junior centerman Tyler Morley (12:33) in the middle frame.
"Alaska kept fighting hard. They came hard in the second period," Bergeron said.
Entering the final 20 minutes of action leading by one, the Falcons turned to their defense to earn a weekend sweep over Alaska. The Nanooks applied pressure offensively throughout the entire frame, placing 17 shots on Burke. However, Burke turned away every shot he faced in the period and earned his third victory of the season.
Alaska outshot the Falcons on the night, 38-30, but the Falcons relentless defensive showing in the third period helped lift the Orange and Brown past the Nanooks. The Orange and Brown went 0-for-2 on the power play, while killing off a perfect 4-for-4 power play chances for UAF.
The Falcons will be back in action next weekend (Nov. 14-15) in a home-and-home series against the Ohio State University Buckeyes in a non-conference showdown. The Orange and Brown will host the Buckeyes on Friday, Nov. 14 at 8:07 p.m. before heading south to play in the second game of the two-game series at the Value City Arena.
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Team Stats
BGSU
UAF
Shots
29
38
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
2
Penalty Mins
8
4
Faceoffs Won
24
39
Game Leaders
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
Players Mentioned
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