Falcons Net Three in Friday Loss to RedHawks

Friday, November 24

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:37PM

Bowling Green State University

6-5-3 (5-2-3WCHA)

Miami

6-6-1 (2-3-1NCHC)

Miami University

Bowling Green

November 24, 2017 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: by Matthew Daley, Athletic Communicationis Assistant

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University hockey team twice overcame deficits to knot their game against Miami University on Friday night (Nov. 23) at the Slater Family Ice Arena. However, the Falcons could not recover from a third, as they fell to the RedHawks 6-3. With the loss, BGSU drops to 6-5-3 overall and 1-3-0 in non-conference games. Miami is now 6-6-1 overall and 4-3-0 outside of the NCHC.

Box Score
McDonald Goal Call 1-1
D'Andrea Goal Call 2-3
Spezia Goal Call 3-3

Miami scored early in the opening frame to grab a 1-0 lead, but the Falcons evened the score with 6:10 remaining in the first on Connor McDonald's first goal of the season. The RedHawks claimed the lead before the end of the period and doubled their edge to two goals just three minutes into the second period. BGSU retaliated with two goals in a four-minute span to tie the game. Brett D'Andrea halved Miami's lead at the 10:19 mark of the second period, then Tyler Spezia put home an unassisted equalizer at the 14:19 mark.

The RedHawks stole the lead back on a power play goal with just 1:35 left in the second and scored again 37 seconds later. The final margin was provided by an empty-net goal at the end of the final 20 minutes.

Scoring Plays

Trailing 1-0 in the first period, the Falcons found the equalizer with 6:10 left on the clock. Connor McDonald skated through traffic and fired a wrist shot from the right circle that beat RedHawk netminder Ryan Larkin high and over the shoulder. it was McDonald's first goal of the season. Brandon Kruse and Alec Rauhauser earned assists on the play.
Miami took at 3-1 lead in the second period, but BGSU got one goal back midway through. Sam Craggs took a shot that went wide, but Brett D'Andrea was there to clean it up from the left with 9:26 remaining in the period. The goal was the second of the season for D'Andrea, and both Craggs and Cameron Wright were awarded assists.
Bowling Green tied the game at 3-3 late in the second period. Tyler Spezia took the puck mid-ice and turned on the jets. He split two Miami defenders before he beat Larkin for an unassisted goal with 5:41 on the clock. Spezia was playing for the first time since Oct. 21, and the goal was his first of the year.

Statistical Standouts

D'Andrea's goal was the 16th of his career. This was the first time the Falcons have lost a game with a D'Andrea goal. BGSU is now 13-1-2 in those contests.
Wright continues to lead the Falcons in points and assists. Wright's assist tonight was his tenth of the season and represents his 15th point. He entered the game ranked fourth nationally among freshmen with 1.06 points per game.
Rauhauser earned his eighth assist and 11th point. Prior to tonight, he was 25th nationally and first in the WCHA among defensemen with 0.77 points per game.
Spezia's goal was his first of the season and the 25th of his career. He ranks second among active Falcons in career goals and points.
Craggs posted his second career assist; it was his first since an Oct. 13 victory against Michigan State.
Like Spezia, McDonald scored his first goal of the season to go with his three assists. It was the third goal and 18th point of his career.
BGSU was outshot 27-14 and posted a season low for shots on goal.
Adam Smith (5), Lukas Craggs (4), and Brandon Kruse (3) led the Falcons in shots on goal.
The Falcons blocked 11 Miami shots.
Smith and McDonald led BGSU with two blocks apiece.
BGSU was 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Bowling Green won 34 of 59 face offs.
D'Andrea led the Falcons with 12 face off victories and did so in 13 attempts.

Postgame Interviews

Coach Bergeron

Tyler Spezia

Up Next

Bowling Green will attempt to split the weekend series against Miami when the Falcons and RedHawks meet in the finale on Saturday night (Nov. 25). The contest will begin at 7:07 p.m. at the Slater Family Ice Arena. BGSU is 3-0-2 in their last five Saturday games and are 3-0-0 thi season on Saturday after a loss or a tie on Friday.

Follow the Falcons

For more information on the hockey program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGFalconHockey and @BGAthletics) and now on Instagram (bgfalconhockey) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.