Falcons’ Season Comes To An End With 4-0 Loss To MSU

Friday, March 21

Grand Rapids, Mich.

2:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

18-15-6

Minnesota State

25-13-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Bowling Green	0	0	0	0
Minnesota State	0	2	2	4

Sean Walker

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

March 21, 2014 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

The Falcons finished the season with an 18-15-6 overall record, marking their first winning season since 1996-97.

By: by Jake Dorow, Athletic Communications

BOXSCORE | HTML
Post-game Press Conference
Photo Gallery (Todd Pavlack)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team lost to Minnesota State Friday afternoon, falling to the Mavericks by a score of 4-0. With the win, the Mavericks (25-13-1) advanced to the WCHA Final Five Championship game, ending the 2013-14 season for the Orange and Brown. The Falcons (18-15-6) failed to score a goal for just the third time all season, while sophomore goaltender Tommy Burke turned away 23-of-25 in the losing effort.

The playoff atmosphere was noticeable in the Van Andel Arena, as both teams put on a tough, grind-out performance in the opening period of the contest. Battling defensively, neither the Falcons nor the Mavericks allowed a goal in the first 20:00 of action in the WCHA Final Five semis. Burke turned away all 14 shots fired his way to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0 entering the second period.

The Mavericks broke the scoreless tilt at the 3:52 mark in the middle frame, coming off the stick of Chase Grant at even strength. Matt Leitner, who was named to the All-WCHA First Team last week, sent a pass across the slot towards Grant on the far side of the ice. Grant retrieved the puck and sent a one-timer into the back of the net, beating Burke to grab a 1-0 lead.

The Mavericks doubled their lead with a shorthanded goal at the 12:24 mark in the second, coming off the stick of Bryce Gervais. Gervais created a turnover behind the net as Burke went to play a clear from the MSU defense. The sophomore grabbed the puck and wrapped around the net, beating Burke to bury the puck into the back of the twine, giving the Minnesota State a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota State added two more goals in the third period to put the game away. A short-handed goal by Johnny McInnis at the 10:47 mark gave the 15-ranked Mavericks a 3-0 lead. MSU then added an empty-netter at the 18:28 mark with the Falcons adding an extra attacker in the final minutes.

Friday's loss marked the end of the season, and the final game for the Falcon eight seniors. The season saw the Orange and
Brown finish with an 18-15-6 overall record, the first winning season since the 1996-97 campaign when the Falcons went finished 17-16-5. The Falcons also won their fourth-straight opening round playoff series, hosting a first round series for the first time since the 2007-08 season. Bowling Green have won five playoff series' in that span, picking up first round victories in the CCHA Playoffs in each of the past three years. BGSU also won a CCHA quarterfinal series in 2011-12 over second-ranked Ferris State. The series' sweep over Michigan Tech was the first time the Falcons have swept a series in front of their home fans. The Orange and Brown also had their best offensive season under fourth year head coach Chris Bergeron, finishing with 119 total goals and averaged 3.13 goals-per-game.

Postgame Press Conference: