Minnesota State Ends BGSU Hockey Season In WCHA Semifinals

Friday, March 18

Grand Rapids, Mich.

4:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

22-14-6, 16-7-5

Minnesota State

21-12-7, 16-5-7

Bowling Green

Minnesota State

Photo by: Brad Phalin, BGSU Marketing and Communications

March 18, 2016 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

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

Box Score
Photo Gallery

Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Bowling Green State University hockey team advanced to the WCHA Tournament semifinals for the third consecutive season but a trip to the championship game continues to elude the Falcons as Minnesota State ended BGSU's season in a 2-1 defeat Friday afternoon. Bowling Green ends the 2015-16 season with a record of 22-14-6 and the program has compiled 45 wins over the past two years.

"I'm really proud of our group," BGSU Head Coach Chris Bergeron said. "The expectations were high coming into this year. We won 22 games this year and we had to answer questions about what went wrong. That's a good thing for our program."

BGSU and Minnesota State met for the fifth time this year on Friday. The two teams battled to an even 1-1-2 record during the regular season but the Mavericks scored twice in the first seven minutes in the playoff game and held off a late charge by the Falcons.

Bowling Green, which entered the contest averaging 4.4 goals over the past eight games, took more than 56 minutes to break into the scoring column despite outshooting the Mavericks 24-23. Sean Walker had a shot attempt ring off the pipe and the Falcons took seven shots on goal over the course of four power play opportunities but they were unable to solve Minnesota State goalie Cole Huggins.

Minnesota State, for its part, scored twice in a two-minute stretch of the first period to take a two-goal lead just seven minutes into the contest. Brad McClure earned his fifth goal of the season at the 5:18 mark and Casey Nelson posted his sixth score at exactly 7:00.

The Falcons were outshot 8-6 in the opening period but generated more opportunities in taking 10 shots on goal in the second. The Falcons held an 8-5 edge over the final 20 minutes but were unable to cut into the deficit until earning its fourth power play chance of the contest with 4:25 to play.

Already holding a man advantage, head coach Chris Bergeron opted to pull goalie Chris Nell for an extra attacker and the strategy paid off. From behind the goal, Matt Pohlkamp found Mitch McLain on the doorstep and the junior forward buried a shot that brought the Falcons within one with 3:55 to go.

The Falcons continued to throw an extra skater on the ice but Bowling Green was forced to return Nell to goal when the team took a penalty with just under one minute to play. BGSU was unable to find a breakout opportunity and Minnesota State iced away the contest.

Mark Cooper, one of five seniors who played their last game in the Orange and Brown, registered the second assist on the McLain goal and completed his career with 91 points, the most among active players. The other four seniors to see their careers come to a closer are Tommy Burke, Jose Delgadillo, Ben Murphy and Brent Tate. The group has six shots on goal and three blocked shots during the game.

BGSU went 1-for-4 on the power play and held Minnesota State scoreless on six power play attempts. Both teams had 10 blocked shots but the Mavericks held a commanding 36-19 advantage on face offs.