Falcons, Beavers Skate To A 2-2 Deadlock

Saturday, January 31

Bemidji, Minn.

8:07 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

11-4-315-6-5; WCHA

Bemidji State

6-8-410-12-4; WCHA

OT 1

Bowling Green

BSU

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

January 31, 2015 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

Sophomores Kevin Dufour and Pierre-Luc Mercier lit-the-lamp for the Falcons.

By: by BGSU Athletic Communications

Bemidji, Minn. – The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team skated to a 2-2 tie with Bemidji State University on Saturday (Jan. 31) night. Playing in the second game of a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) weekend showdown at the Sanford Center, the Falcons received goals from Kevin Dufour and Pierre-Luc Mercier on the night, while freshman netminder Chris Nell (6-2-2) turned away 28-of-30 shots between the pipes.

With the tie, Bowling Green improved to 15-6-5 overall and 11-4-3 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) standings – solidifying third place in a tight race in league play with 25 points, trailing only Minnesota State (35 pts.) and Michigan Tech (31 pts) after 18 conference affairs. Meanwhile, Bemidji State jumps to 10-12-4 overall and 6-8-4 in conference play for the season.

The Orange and Brown scored the first goal of the contest, coming off the stick of Dufour at 13:11 in the first frame. The left-handed winger from Quebec City split two Bemidji defenders past the blue line and took a stretch pass from freshman Brandon Hawkins before sending a backhanded shot past Beavers' starting netminder Michael Bitzer, giving BGSU an early 1-0 lead.

You can listen to the goal call (Evan Pivnick) by CLICKING HERE!

Nell, who made his 10th appearance in the crease for the Falcons this season, turned away all five Bemidji shots throughout the opening period, backstopping Bowling Green to a 1-0 lead entering the middle frame.

With just under five minutes remaining in the second period, the Falcons extended its lead, taking a 2-0 lead coming off the stick of Mercier. Junior forward Brent Tate, who hails from Canton, Michigan, fired a shot towards Bitzer. The rebound bounced towards winger Adam Berkle, who quickly sent a pass into the slot for a waiting Mercier. The Quebec City native fired a one-timer, finding the back of the cage for his fifth goal of the season.

You can listen to the goal call (Evan Pivnick) by CLICKING HERE!

The Beavers, who entered the final frame trailing by a pair of goals, could not solve Nell until Matt Prapavessis (16:55) and Brendan Harms (19:05) scored back-to-back goals over the final minutes of the third period. Nell turned away 23 consecutive shots fired his way, until Bemidji State finally broke the scoreless drought with 3:05 remaining in regulation.

Bemidji Sate out-shot Bowling Green on the night by a slim 30-25 margin. The Beavers also totaled 20 blocked shots to the Falcons 14. However, the Orange and Brown continued its dominate play on the penalty kill, going a perfect 4-for-4 on the night. BGSU went 0-for-4 on the power play on the night.

The Falcons will continue its WCHA stretch next weekend, returning home to play host to the Bulldogs of Ferris State Feb. 6-7 at the BGSU Ice Arena. The weekend series will mark the first of a back-to-back weekend series, as the two teams will play four games in a two-week stretch.