No. 8 Falcons Open Four-Game Set With Ferris State With 2-1 Win

Friday, February 6

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

16-6-5, 12-4-3

Ferris State

11-16-1, 8-11-0

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

February 06, 2015 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Scott Swegan/Jason Knavel, Athletic Communications

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BOWLING GREEN, Ohio—The eighth-ranked Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated Ferris State University 2-1 on Friday night inside the BGSU Ice Arena. The come-from-behind win came in the first of four consecutive games between the two rivals. The Falcons got goals from Ben Murphy and Kevin Dufour on the night, while Tommy Burke turned away 18-of-19 shots faced in the game. With the win, the Falcons improve to 16-6-5 overall and 12-4-3 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play. 2,178 fans were on hand to watch the Falcons improve to 7-3-2 at home this season.

"It was a must-win game for us," BGSU head coach Chris Bergeron said. "There are lots of factors that made this a big time game. Our effort was right. It wasn't our night offensively, but we found a way. We needed to find a way."

Bowling Green, which entered the night ranked first nationally on the penalty kill, was tested early and often. The Falcons committed eight penalties on Friday night, killing off seven of them. Ferris State's lone goal came on one of four power play opportunities in the first period, as the Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Gerald Mayhew gave the visitors the lead at the 14:47 mark of the first period, as a costly turnover for the Falcons deep in their defensive zone gave FSU a great goal-scoring opportunity. Ferris State's Simon Denis would start the play by taking the puck away from a BGSU defender. Denis' pass to Kyle Schempp started the play, and Shempp would find Mayhew for the goal.

Overall, the Falcons dominated the first period of play, but the Bulldogs outshot the Orange and Brown 8-7, taking advantage of four power play opportunities in the opening frame.

Riding momentum, Ferris State came out of the gate in the second period as the aggressor, but the Falcons would flip momentum after killing off a double minor penalty midway through the period.

A minute after killing off the four-minute power play, the Falcons found the back of the net for the equalizer off the stick of Ben Murphy. Mark Cooper would start the play along the boards in the defensive zone and Connor Kucera's long clearing pass would set up Murphy for the goal. On the play, Murphy outsprinted a Ferris State defender and, with one-hand, slapped the puck into the back of the net. It was the 50th point of Murphy's career.

(LISTEN TO THE GOAL CALL BY EVAN PIVNICK BY CLICKING HERE)

"Every dog gets a bone," Murphy said. "We were competing, we needed a bounce, and it was just one of those goals that you can't really explain how it happened. Getting a goal was needed and I think it definitely helped to push the boys."

The two teams traded power play chances early in the third, but neither team was able to take a lead. The Falcons, however, went back on the power play with 13:56 to play in the third period and soon became the aggressor. Despite not scoring on the power play, the Orange and Brown flew around the net and created several chances.

Less than a minute after the end of the power play chance, Kevin Dufour found the back of the net for the go-ahead and game-winning goal. Dufour's team-leading 13th goal came on assists from Adam Berkle and Dan Desalvo, as Berkle found Dufour in front of the net for the one-timer.

(LISTEN TO THE GOAL CALL BY EVAN PIVNICK BY CLICKING HERE)

The top-ranked penalty kill stood strong in the third, as the Falcons held Ferris State scoreless on three chances in the period. With 51 seconds remaining, Ferris State would pull goalie C.J. Motte in order to bring on an extra attacker. Although the Bulldogs had chances, Burke and the Bowling Green defense held strong to preserve the victory.

The two teams will conclude their series at the BGSU Ice Arena on Saturday night. Puck drop is set for 7:07 pm.