McLain Marks the Lone Goal For the Falcons in 4-1 Final at Bemidji State

Saturday, October 8

Bemidji, Minn.

8:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

0-2-0 (0-2-0WCHA)

Bemidji State

2-0-0 (2-0-0WCHA)

Bowling Green

Bemidji State

Photo by: Brad Phalin, BGSU Marketing and Communications

McLain Marks the Lone Goal For the Falcons in 4-1 Final at Bemidji State

October 08, 2016 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

Box Score

BEMIDJI, Minn. – In the season-opening series finale, the Bowling Green (0-2, 0-2 WCHA) hockey team fell to Bemidji State (2-0, 2-0 WCHA) in a 4-1 final. Despite a shorthanded goal by junior Mitch McLain in the second period, the Falcons fell for the second night in a row to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association foe on the road.

"We're going to look at the series and tonight's game and learn to get better from it, that's all we can do," Bowling Green hockey head coach Chris Bergeron said. "We'll go back and evaluate the team play and individual play and get better."

The Beavers grabbed hold of another early lead, as Brett Beauvais tucked the puck in right under the crossbar after a shot taken from the top of the left faceoff circle 7:59 into the first. After some debate about interference with the goaltender, the play was ruled a goal, putting Bemidji State up 1-0, a lead they held through the first period.

With five to go in the first, the pair of WCHA rivals were competing in 4-on-4 play, when junior goaltender Chris Nell tallied crucial back-to-back saves to keep the game at a 1-0 mark. The Beavers took shots first from the circle, before the Green Bay, Wis. native denied the rebound from straight in front of the crease.

It was only 3:40 into the second period when junior Mitch McLain evened the score at 1 a piece with a shorthanded goal. The native of Baxter, Minn. came up with a 2-on-1 opportunity with sophomore Stephen Baylis, ultimately tucking the puck into the upper left side of the net with a shot from the hash marks.

Later in the second, the Falcons had a chance to gain its first lead of the season by going up with a 5-on-3 power play for 59 seconds, but was unable to capitalize on the chance. With just over seven minutes left in the second while the Falcons were still on the power play, Bemidji State saw its first scoring chance of the period with a breakaway that the Bowling Green defense was able to deter to the right side of the goal.

In the waning minutes of the second, Bemidji State was able to test Nell again with just 2:13 remaining. The Beavers had a 3-on-2 chance that Nell abruptly shut down with pad saves.

Right away, just 1:19 into the third period, the Beavers came out and scored its second of the game, as Charlie O'Conner lifted a rebound shot to the upper right corner of the goal. Bemidji State carried the momentum to go up 3-1 in 4-on-4 play with a goal by Gerry Fitzgerald 7:19 into the period.

"When Bemidji State got the second goal it didn't do a lot to our group or mentality but their guy made a big play for the third goal, and it took momentum away for a couple of plays and we weren't able to respond," Coach Bergeron said.

The Beavers then extended its lead after a cluttered play in the corner and the puck was poked out to the front of the goal. In the 5-on-3 advantage, Brendan Harms found the back of the net to stretch the score to a 4-1 mark with just under nine minutes to play.

In one of the Falcons eight power play opportunities with three minutes on the clock, senior Matt Pohlkamp marked two shots that hit the outside of the post, although neither were able to land on goal in the rebound opportunities that the plays created.

Ultimately, Bemidji State held a 30-23 edge in shots, and went 2-9 on the power play. The Beavers also held the advantage in blocked shots by a 17-10 margin and faceoffs won by a 32-28 mark.

"We want to continually get better, and we have to turn around and get back to work this week for Western Michigan, and we have a lot of work to do before then," added Coach Bergeron.

The Bowling Green hockey team will return to the BGSU Ice Arena on Friday evening as it welcomes Western Michigan for non-conference play. The home-opener is set for a 7:07 p.m. puck drop.