D'Andrea's Multi-Point Night Keys 4-2 Comeback Win Over Bemidji State

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6:07 p.m.

Ice Hockey

vs Robert Morris

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TBA

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at Niagara

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7:07 p.m.

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vs Windsor (Ont.)

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Box Score
Highlights
Craggs Goal Call 1-2
D'Andrea Goal Call 2-2
Friedman Goal Call 3-2
McLain Goal Call 4-2

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University hockey team erased a two-goal deficit and eight different players earned a point as the Falcons downed Bemidji State 4-2 on Friday night at the Slater Family Ice Arena. The loss was just the third in 20 WCHA games for the Beavers, while the Falcons moved back above .500 in conference play.

The first period was a struggle for Bowling Green. There were few offensive opportunities for the Falcons, who secured only three shots on goal during the first 19 minutes of action. Meanwhile, the Beavers rolled to a 2-0 lead for the second straight night. Kyle Bauman opened the scoring midway through the period, then T.J. Roo added a power play goal at the 15:30 mark.

Late in the first period, BGSU was handed a power play when Mike Soucier went to the box for interference. Although the Falcons did not score on one shot against Michael Bitzer, they appeared to relax on offense. Lukas Craggs lit the lamp just 21 seconds after the end of the penalty, at the 19:09 mark, to halve the Beavers' lead.

Craggs' shot from the slot was one of just four in the first 20 minutes for BGSU, but the Falcons took momentum into the second period. They quickly and decisively took advantage of it when the first intermission ended.

Brett D'Andrea nailed the equalizer with only five minutes gone in the second period. After taking a pass from Connor McDonald, D'Andrea got to the near red dot facing Bitzer and sent a laser that sailed past his far shoulder and into the net.

However, the key moment of the game came shortly after. Dylan McCrory took a boarding penalty for BSU just after the tying goal, but the only shot during the BGSU power play came via Jordan Heller. A turnover by Alec Rauhauser led to a Heller breakaway, but freshman goaltender Ryan Bednard saved the shot to keep the game tied. Bednard saved all 12 shots he faced during the final 40 minutes.

BGSU turned the good fortune into the lead before the midpoint of the period. Phillip Marinaccio was sent to the box for hooking at the 9:10 mark, and the Falcons scored a power play goal only six seconds later.

Mitch McLain won the faceoff following the penalty, and Stephen Baylis sent the puck to D'Andrea, who found Mark Friedman at the blue line. From there, Freidman sent a shot past a screened Bitzer for a 3-2 lead, which BGSU maintained into the third period.

The final 20 minutes belonged to the Bowling Green offense. The Falcons owned the puck in the third, predominantly keeping it in their offensive zone. Ultimately, they had an 11-2 edge in shots on goal during the final frame.

Even after Bemidji pulled Bitzer in the final two minutes, the Beavers could not get the puck near Bednard. With 28 seconds to play, Marinaccio was called for a five-minute checking penalty and given a game misconduct. McLain then ended any remaining drama with an empty-netter from near center ice at the 19:45 mark.

McLain's goal was his team-leading 14th of the season, and it gives him a five-game points streak. He is also second in the WCHA in goals per game at 0.58. The conference leader stands at 0.59.

The goals by Craggs, D'Andrea and Friedman were the sixth of the season for each. They move into a tie for third on the team in goals scored with Kevin Dufour and Sean Walker.

D'Andrea added an assist for his fourth multi-point game of the season. Walker, Baylis, McDonald and Frederic Letourneau added assists for the Falcons. Bednard saved 17 of 19 shots to earn his fourth victory in his last five starts dating back to Nov. 26.

BGSU improves to 11-12-2 overall and 9-8-1-1 in WCHA play with the victory. The Falcons' 29 league points remain good for third place ahead of Minnesota State. Bemidji State drops to 15-8-3 overall and 15-3-2-2 in the WCHA. The Falcons' next series is in Mankato, Minn. on Jan. 13 and 14 against the MSU Mavericks. The team then returns home on Jan. 20 and 21 to face Alaska. Both games in that series begin at 7:07 p.m. ET.

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