Falcons Earn 20th Win By Bulldozing Chargers

Friday, March 6

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 P.M.

Bowling Green State University

20-10-5, 16-8-3

Alabama Huntsville

8-23-4, 7-19-1

Team	1	2	3	F
Alabama Huntsville	0	0	2	2
Bowling Green	2	2	3	7

Photo by: Todd Pavlack / BGSUHockey.com

March 06, 2015 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

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

Boxscore
Photo Gallery

Bowling Green, Ohio – It took 19 years, but the Bowling Green State University hockey team reached another elite milestone Friday night, defeating Alabama Huntsville 7-2 to earn its 20^th win of the season. It is the first time the 14^th-ranked Falcons have won 20 games in a season since 1995-96.

The 2014-15 version becomes the 19^th team in the program's history to win 20, which includes five 30-win seasons and the 1984 NCAA Division I National Championship. And it came in a 7-2 rout in which the Falcons scored less than a minute into the contest and tallied the first seven scores of the game.

"We got off to a great start," BGSU head coach Chris Bergeron said. "I thought we played well. Tonight, the opportunities came and we scored and that was nice to see. It was a big win for us. Twenty wins is a bunch in college. That's a big milestone as far as we're concerned."

Bowling Green scored at least two goals in every period, outshooting Alabama Huntsville 37-19 on the evening. Junior Mark Cooper and freshman Brandon Hawkins scored two goals each and Hawkins' first was on a penalty shot – the first BGSU penalty shot goal since Brennan Vargas scored against Western Michigan on Jan. 22, 2010.

Cooper, in fact, scored the first two goals of the game, picking up the opening tally just 55 seconds into the contest. Freshman Mark Friedman's initial shot rebounded to senior Adam Berkle, who found Cooper for his fourth score of the year.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

Later in the first period, Cooper put the Falcons ahead 2-0 on a power play goal with assists from freshmen Nolan Valleau and Brett D'Andrea.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

BGSU took 17 shots in that opening frame and continued to put the pressure on in the second period. The Falcons again scored an early goal, as senior Dan DeSalvo, playing on his 23^rd birthday, found the back of the net just 69 seconds in the second on assists from Tyler Spezia and Friedman.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

Hawkins got into the action just a few minutes later. The team's leading scorer was awarded a penalty shot at 4:19 of the second after an Alabama Huntsville player was penalized for delay of game after he smothered the puck in the goal crease.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

That 4-0 lead stood through two periods after the Falcons held a 13-4 edge in shots in the second. But Bowling Green put the contest on ice early in the third when the Falcons scored three times in a span of 2:22.

Sophomore defenseman Sean Walker recorded his fifth goal of the year as the two teams played 4-on-4 hockey with an assist from Hawkins.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

Just 1:33 later, Hawkins recorded his second goal with a power play score on assists from DeSalvo and freshman Mitch McLain. For DeSalvo, it is the 99^th point of his career, leaving him just one shy of becoming the 70^th player in BGSU history with 100.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

Bowling Green completed its scoring 49 seconds later as sophomore Pierre-Luc Mercier took a pass on a 2-on-1 from sophomore Matt Pohlkamp to make it 7-0.

Listen to Evan Pivnick's goal call by CLICKING HERE

Alabama Huntsville stopped the shutout attempt late in the game as Max McHugh scored power play goals just 1:31 apart for the final 7-2 score. Junior Tommy Burke finished with 17 saves to improve to 11-5-3 on the year in net.

Both teams ended the game with two power play goals with Bowling Green going 2-for-5 and Alabama Huntsville at 2-for-9. The Falcons have now scored five power play goals in the past five games after snapping an 0-for-28 stretch with the man advantage.

With the win, Bowling Green improves to 20-10-5 overall and 16-8-3 in WCHA play. Alabama Huntsville falls to 8-23-4 overall and 7-19-1 in league action. The two teams will complete the weekend series Saturday at 7:07 pm for Senior Night at the BGSU Ice Arena.