With a Backhand Goal by Friedman, Falcons Down Ferris State 3-2 in Overtime

Friday, January 27

Big Rapids, Mich.

8:37 PM

Bowling Green State University

13-14-3,11-10-2WCHA

Ferris State

8-15-5,7-10-3-3WCHA

OT 1

Bowling Green

Ferris State

With a Backhand Goal by Friedman, Falcons Down Ferris State 3-2 in Overtime

January 28, 2017 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

Box Score
Spezia Goal Call 1-1
Dufour Goal Call 2-2
Friedman Goal Call 3-2 OT

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – The Bowling Green hockey team (14-14-2, 12-10-1 WCHA) was nationally televised for the second time this season as it faced Ferris State (8-16-4, 7-11-3 WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play Friday evening. The Falcons came back for an exciting 3-2 overtime win on the American Sports Network in Ewigleben Ice Arena, earning three points in the conference standings.

"It was a good road win, I think we stuck with it," Bowling Green hockey head coach Chris Bergeron said. "It was a game with a lot of ups and downs and I thought we had a good second period and came out of that down 2-1 which was disappointing. So it was nice to come back and get the win for sure."

Although the Falcons outshot Ferris State by a 10-7 margin through the first period, the Bulldogs were able to head into the second with a 1-0 lead. A big chance came for the Falcons midway through the first to tie the game as senior Kevin Dufour got through with a breakaway, although Ferris State's Justin Kapelmaster made the stop with his boot. Bowling Green went on to carry 42 seconds of power play action into the second stanza, and opened the period by holding Ferris State to just two shots on goal through nearly the first 10 minutes of the period.

It was 7:29 into the second when the Falcons came down the ice and sophomore John Schilling dropped a pass back to junior Tyler Spezia. A Clinton Township, Mich. native, Spezia picked up the puck at the right faceoff circle and took a quick shot that found the back of the net to even the score at 1-1. The goal was Spezia's fifth of the season.

A tough break came a few minutes later as Schilling seemed to find himself on a breakaway midway through the period, but was whistled off by the officials as the puck may have bounced off a player on the bench. After a couple of minutes with the tie score, Ferris State came back with an even strength goal and was able to close out the second period with another lead of 2-1.

The Falcons were awarded a 5:00 power play 6:39 into the third, as Craig Pefley was sent off the ice for checking from behind. The Bowling Green offense generated multiple chances, but it was with 1:32 remaining with the man-advantage that Dufour was able to pick up a rebound and chip it in down low to tie up the game at 2-2. It was the Quebec City, Quebec native's 10th of the season and second power play goal of the year.

The third period was filled with strong Falcon chances in the offensive zone, although the teams stood tied at 2-2. Bowling Green had a critical chance with 4:01 remaining in regulation in which the puck found the back of the net, but the goal waved off due to a high stick.

With 2.5 seconds on the clock, there were coincidental penalties that resulted into the team's heading into overtime with 4-on-4 play. 1:58 remained of the penalties heading into extra time, and with the open space the Falcons created four shots on goal in just 34 seconds of overtime action.

Junior Mark Friedman received a pass in the slot from junior Brett D'Andrea, and Friedman's spin-around move resulted in a backhand shot down low. The puck made its way into the net off a deflection of a Bulldog's skate, making it a 3-2 overtime win for the Falcons. The goal is Friedman's seventh of the year, and second game-winner of the season while his seven shots on goal on the night led the Bowling Green squad.

In goal, junior Chris Nell tallied 21 saves including a game-high of eight in the third period, for a save percentage of .913 on the night. Nell also held the game to a tie score at a critical point in the third period in which the Falcons had 1:10 of 5-on-3 penalty kill time.

"I thought our penalty kill was good and I've been happy with it," added Coach Bergeron. "I thought we looked in control and our guys did a good job of being where they were supposed to be and doing what they are supposed to do. The results were great and I think for the most part on the penalty kill our process was pretty good."

Overall, the Falcons outshot Ferris State in every period and accumulated a 35-23 advantage in shots on goal. Bowling Green also went 1-for-5 with the man advantage and held its opponent scoreless on the power play for the 14th time this season.

The Bowling Green hockey program will be back in action tomorrow as it rounds out the series with Ferris State in a standard 7:07 p.m. start from Ewigleben Ice Arena.