Mercier Nets First Goal of the Season in Falcons Loss to No. 19 Ohio State

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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Bowling Green hockey team (0-5-1, 0-2-0 WCHA) was unable to come back from a three-goal deficit built in the first period, and ultimately fell to No. 19 Ohio State (3-0-2, 0-0-0 Big Ten) in a 6-1 final Saturday night on the road. In the second game of a home-and-home series, Pierre-Luc Mercier netted his first goal of the season against the non-conference in-state rival.

Despite a couple of Bowling Green rushes at the net and a power play chance to start out the game, the Buckeyes were able to find the back of the net early for the second consecutive night. Ohio State went up 1-0 on a power play opportunity 5:38 into the game, after picking up the rebound and shooting through traffic to the inside of the low right post.

"The results say that it's two tough Saturday nights on the road after two pretty good efforts on Friday night in home-and-home situations," Bowling Green hockey head coach Chris Bergeron said. "There's no excuse for three goals in the first period. We weren't playing great, but I thought we were there and could have righted the ship but you go down three-nothing and it makes it real difficult."

Ohio State then rushed the net and found the back of the net at even strength 11:51 into the game to make it a two-goal lead over the Falcons. By coming in on the right faceoff circle, the Buckeyes were able to slide right into the slot and score by placing the puck in the lower left corner of the goal.

Before the end of the first period, the Buckeyes made it a three goal game with 4:04 to go in the first, by slipping the puck through the five hole. Junior goaltender Chris Nell then went in to man the net for the remainder of the non-conference matchup, and marked three goals against and 14 saves through his 44:04 minutes of play.

Although the Falcons held the offensive edge through the first five minutes of the second period, the Buckeyes were able to find the back of the net shortly thereafter with a one-timer taken on the rebound. Nell was able to stop the initial Ohio State shot taken from the hash marks of the right faceoff circle, but the Buckeyes got through with the quick shot on the rebound from straight out in front of the goal that found the top shelf.

It was senior Pierre-Luc Mercier who responded quickly for the Falcons, as he netted his first goal of the season three minutes later to make it a 4-1 game. Mercier received a pass from senior Kevin Dufour just inside the blue line and found the upper right corner of the goal off his shot taken at the top of the faceoff circle. Although it was Mercier's first of the season, the goal marked Dufour's fourth assist of the season across the first six games. The Quebec City, Quebec native is averaging .667 assists per game.

The Falcons steadily attempted to make the comeback in the third period by pressuring play in the Ohio State zone. Bowling Green accounted for eight of its 29 shots in the final 20 minutes of play, and had three solid scoring chances at finding its second goal. First, sophomore Adam Smith took a shot from the left point that was tipped down low but was covered before Bowling Green could get to the rebound.

Senior Sean Walker looked to extend his three-game scoring streak by taking a shot on the breakaway down low on the right wall. The hard-angled shot was deterred by the Ohio State goalie, and was sent up into the netting and out of play. Following Walker's attempt, junior Mark Freidman dangled through the Ohio State d-men, but senior goaltender Matt Tomkins came up with a big glove save to keep the remainder of the game scoreless for the Falcons with 6:56 on the clock.

"I thought we had some opportunities to capitalize on the power play and we didn't, so I don't think it was a complete write off on the power play," Coach Bergeron said. "The difference between last night and tonight was that last night we scored goals and tonight we didn't."

Beyond the second period, the in-state rivals were held scoreless until 8:07 into the third, when Ohio State was able to make it 5-1 in a 4-on-4 play in which they were able to find the five hole. The Buckeyes then went up with only 3:56 on the clock after taking a shot at the goal line that hit the left post, but was able to jab in the rebound out front from the edge of the crease.

Offensively, senior Matt Pohlkamp was another strong presence in the offensive zone, as the Baxter, Minn. native tallied six shots on goal, leading the Falcons for the second night in a row. Pohlkamp had marked a two-goal game against the Buckeyes on Friday night with six shots, and earned three blocked shots throughout the series.

Ultimately, Ohio State held the edge in shots by a narrow 30-29 mark, although the Falcons held the Buckeyes to just six shots through the final 20 minutes of play compared to 14 in the first period. Ohio State was also able to go 1-7 with the man-advantage, while Bowling Green was unable to capitalize on the power play.

"I want our guys to take some negative out of what's gone on the last couple Saturdays," added Coach Bergeron. "I think results are what they are and we take ownership of it; it's real, it's not a mentality, it's a record. It shows our body of work and to this point it's not close to good enough."

The Bowling Green hockey team will continue non-conference play on the road next week by facing in-state foe Miami on Friday, Oct. 28 and Saturday, Oct. 29 in Oxford, Ohio.

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