Nell Shuts Down Bemidji State As Falcons Win 2-0

Saturday, December 12

Bemidji, Minn.

8:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

8-2-411-3-5; WCHA

Bemidji State

4-8-25-9-3; WCHA

Team	1	2	3	F
Bowling Green	0	2	0	2
Bemidji State	0	0	0	0

December 12, 2015 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Box score

Bemidji, Minn. – Bowling Green State University sophomore goalie Chris Nell made 28 saves and the No. 14-ranked Falcons completed a weekend road sweep of Bemidji State with a 2-0 victory Saturday.

For Nell, it is his sixth career shutout, moving him just one shy of BGSU's all-time record, held by both Tyler Masters (1999-03) and Andrew Hammond (2010-13). Nell now has three shutouts this year.

"Chris played well, especially early when Bemidji State pushed hard," BGSU Head Coach Chris Bergeron said. "I'm happy for him."

After recording just 15 shots in a 4-1 loss Friday night, Bemidji State was active early in the game, picking up five shots on goal through the first 10 minutes of the opening period. But Nell kept the Beavers off the board and the game was scoreless after one despite the fact that BGSU had just two shots on goal in the frame.

But Bowling Green turned things around in the second, generating more offense to the tune of 13 shots on goal. The Falcons finally broke the scoreless tie at the 10:01 mark of the second. Jakob Reichert was able to keep a loose puck in the offensive zone and he found Pierre-Luc Mercier at the top of the left circle. Mercier fired a shot that Bemidji State goalie Michael Bitzer initially appeared to save but the puck came free and trickled past him for the goal. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

It was Mercier's third goal of the season and Reichert's first point since scoring the first goal of the 2015-16 season for the Falcons in a win at Ohio State.

Bemidji State had a chance to answer as the Falcons took penalties in succession. But the Falcons killed off both power play chances and Bowling Green used the momentum to add to the lead. With just 2:28 to play in the period, John Schilling scooped up a rebound following a rocket from the left circle by Ben Murphy. Schilling beat Bitzer from the doorstep and gave the Falcons a big insurance goal. (CLICK HERE for the goal call)

For Schilling, it was his third goal of the season, while Murphy earned his fifth assist. Junior captain Sean Walker posted the other assist, his seventh of the year.

Bemidji State continued to press in the third period and the Beavers took 13 shots on goal in the final 20 minutes. In fact, Bemidji State pulled its goalie for the final 3:50 of regulation but Nell was up to the challenge to keep the Beavers off the scoreboard.

For the game, Bemidji State outshot Bowling Green 28-21. Mitch McLain had a team-best five shots on goal, but the Falcon defense stood tall as well. BGSU blocked 19 shots, its second-highest total of the year, with Matt Pohlkamp leading the way with four blocks. The Falcons also won 34-of-64 faceoffs.

"We were opportunistic around the other team's net," Bergeron said. "And we killed penalties well tonight. We got good goaltending and we didn't lose the special teams battle."

Bemidji State falls to 5-9-3 overall and 4-8-2 in WCHA play with the loss. Bowling Green remains in sole possession of second place in the league standings with the win and is now 11-3-5 overall and 8-2-4 in conference action. The Falcons are now off until playing Western Michigan at the Huntington Center in Toledo on Dec. 30 at 5 pm.