Matt Pohlkamp's Short-Handed Game-Winner Lifts No. 16 Falcons Past Toronto

Saturday, October 3

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

Toronto

Photo by: Brad Phalin, BGSU Marketing and Communications

Matt Pohlkamp's Short-Handed Game-Winner Lifts No. 16 Falcons Past Toronto

October 03, 2015 | Ice Hockey

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Bowling Green, Ohio – Junior forward Matt Pohlkamp scored a short-handed goal with 47.7 seconds remaining to lift the No. 16 Bowling Green State University hockey team past the University of Toronto, 4-3 Saturday night in the Falcons' lone exhibition game.

On top of Pohlkamp's game-winner, the Falcons also got two goals from sophomore Brandon Hawkins and one from freshman John Schilling. While Bowling Green built leads of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, a physical Toronto team answered with a goal each time. BGSU's freshman class played a huge part offensively, tallying one goal and three assists.

"It was a 50/50 race," Pohlkamp said in describing his game winner. "I ended up lifting up his stick and shooting it into the net."

Pohlkamp joined Hawkins with two points as he added an assist on Hawkins' power play goal in the second period that momentarily gave the Falcons a 3-2 lead.

With the help of Mark Friedman and Stephen Baylis, Hawkins was able to jumpstart the team in a tough first period. Bowling Green scored the first goal of the night at 16:01, as sophomore Hawkins received passes from Friedman and Baylis and rung a shot off the bottom of the crossbar for the first score of the game. (CLICK HERE for goal call from Evan Pivnick)

Toronto tied the game with just 10 seconds left in the first period to get on the board just prior to the intermission. Starting goaltender Tommy Burke made nine saves in the first period for the Falcons.

After outshooting Toronto 14-10 in the first, Bowling Green continued its offensive edge in the second frame and Burke gave way to Tomas Sholl midway through the second. Burke posted two more saves in the second and Sholl added three in the frame.

Freshman John Schilling broke the 1-1 tie in the second period with assists from fellow rookie Shane Bednard and redshirt senior Dajon Mingo just 4:25 into the second. (CLICK HERE for goal call from Evan Pivnick) Toronto responded at 11:07 with a goal from Aidan Wallace assisted by Charlie Connell. The Falcons were quick to respond on a power play opportunity with another goal from Hawkins. On the power play, the Pohlkamp brothers (Matt and Chris) fought hard to keep the puck in the attacking zone and assisted Hawkins on his second goal of the night. (CLICK HERE for goal call from Evan Pivnick)

Going into the third period, Toronto came out with fire, looking to tie the contest again. At 3:41, Max Lindsay was able to find a hole with the assistance of Josh Hanson and Kevin Deagle right in the crease.

The remainder of the period was a quick back-and-forth affair in which special teams stepped to the forefront, with BGSU taking five penalties and Toronto taking three.

With 1:46 to play, Toronto's Dylan Heide and Schilling each took holding penalties while Jakob Reichert was given a slashing penalty. That put Toronto on the power play for the remainder of the contest. The Falcons, though, were not ready to settle for overtime as Pohlkamp broke free and scored the winner with just 48 seconds to go. (CLICK HERE for goal call from Evan Pivnick)

For the contest, Bowling Green held a 38-21 advantage in shots. The Falcons were 1-for-5 on the power play and held Toronto scoreless on six chances. Burke finished with 11 saves and Sholl had seven for the Falcons. Toronto's Brett Willows made 34 saves in goal.

"It was time for us to play somebody else," head coach Chris Bergeron said. "The fact that we had to find our way through some adversity, well that's going to be the regular season. We might as well test ourselves in a tough spot."

The announced attendance of 1,792 showed excitement around the program with the Falcons ranked nationally in the preseason for the first time in at least two decades. A year ago, the team's exhibition game drew 874 fans.

Bowling Green will return to the ice Friday to open the regular season at Ohio State with puck drop set for 7:05 pm. The Falcons will then host the Buckeyes the next night at 7:37 pm.