Offensive Outburst Gives Falcons Season-Opening Win Over Wildcats

Saturday, October 1

Marquette, MI

6:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

1-0-0, 1-0-0

RV Northern Michigan

0-1-0, 0-1-0

Bowling Green

Northern Mich.

Photo by: Jill Borthwick, BGSU Athletics

Offensive Outburst Gives Falcons Season-Opening Win Over Wildcats

October 01, 2022 | Ice Hockey

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Taylor Schneider scores three points, Falcons earn three points in CCHA standings

By: by David Dietrich, BGSU Strategic Communications

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The Bowling Green Falcons (1-0-0, 1-0-0 CCHA) opened the 2022-23 season with an impressive offensive performance, defeating conference foe Northern Michigan (0-1-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) by a score of 6-4. Taylor Schneider paced the Falcons with three points, tallying one goal and two assists. Austen Swankler registered a goal and assist, with the goal being the eventual game-winner.

Chase Gresock scored Bowling Green's first goal in his first game as a Falcon, while Jaden Grant earned an assist in his collegiate debut. Assistant captain Max Coyle scored his second career goal, with Ethan Scardina and Ryan O'Hara adding the other goals for the Orange and Brown.

Scoring Plays

The Wildcats scored the first goal of the night, just over eight minutes into the game. Brett Willits fired a shot from the left circle, which Reilly Funk swiftly redirected, sending the puck trickling into the net. Willits and Kjellberg had the assists.
Near the end of the first period, Taylor Schneider secured a loose puck on the left side of the BGSU zone. He made a quick pass to Chase Gresock, who knotted the score with a top shelf goal. Schneider was credited with the lone assist.
Just 65 seconds into the second period, Max Coyle gave the Falcons the lead. Taylor Schneider intercepted a Wildcat pass and raced down the left side. His shot was blocked, but Spencer Schneider collected the puck and found Coyle on the back side for the go-ahead score. The assists went to the Schneider brothers.
Two and a half minutes later, Ethan Scardina extended the lead with a power play goal. Eric Parker skated from left to middle at the blue line, finding Austen Swankler at the right circle. Swankler's shot was redirected by Scardina, giving the Falcons a 3-1 lead. Parker and Swankler earned the assists.
Just before the midpoint of the game, NMU cut into the lead with an Artem Shlaine goal. Andre Ghantous circled behind the net and fed the puck to Shlaine, who connected for the goal. Assists were earned by Ghantous and Joey Larson.
Four minutes later, the Wildcats tied the game with a power play goal. NMU attacked after the Falcons cleared the puck, with Ghantous finding an open Michael Collela on the right side of the crease. His close-range shot hit the back of the net, evening the score. Ghantous and Josh Zinger were credited with the assists.
The Wildcats capitalized on an early third period power play, with Collela scoring his second goal of the night. NMU was able to move from left to right through the zone, with Collela connecting from close-range again. Ghantous earned his third assist, with Larson tallying his second.
Less than 30 seconds later, the Falcons won a faceoff in the left circle of their zone. Ryan O'Hara fired a shot as soon as he secured the puck, finding twine between an array of defenders. Jaden Grant was credited with the only assist.
With 13:11 remaining, BGSU took the lead with an unassisted Austen Swankler goal. NMU turned the puck over in the Falcon zone, with Swankler firing from the left circle. His shot flew past Charlie Glockner to help the Orange and Brown reclaim the lead.
A late penalty gave the Wildcats a power play chance in the final minute, then NMU pulled the goalie and added a skater for a 6-on-4 advantage. The Falcons kept the puck out of the net and Taylor Schneider won the race to a loose puck to score the shorthanded empty-netter to clinch the victory.

Falcon Facts

Taylor Schneider earned a goal and pair of assists, marking the 18^th multi-point game and eighth multi-assist game of his career. He matched his single-game career-highs in assists and points. The senior is tied with Alex Barber for the team lead in career multi-point games and has sole possession of the team lead in career multi-assist games.
Schneider played his 147^th career game, extending his lead among active NCAA players. He has a team-best 53 career assists and 87 career points. His goal was shorthanded, the second of his career.
Austen Swankler tallied a goal and an assist, marking the seventh multi-point game of his career. The sophomore has nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points in his career. His goal was the game-winning goal, the third of his career.
In his first game as assistant captain, Max Coyle tallied his second career goal. The senior has 11 points in his college hockey career, with seven coming as a Falcon.
Chase Gresock scored a goal in his Bowling Green debut. The fifth-year forward has a team-best 36 career goals. He entered the game tied with Alex Barber for ninth among active players in career goals. Gresock has 74 points in his collegiate career, which has spanned 100 games.
Ethan Scardina scored a power play goal, the third of his career. He has seven career goals, giving him 15 career points.
Ryan O'Hara's third period goal was his first of the year, giving him five career goals and nine career points.
Sophomores Eric Parker had an assist, giving him 13 in his career.
Jaden Grant recorded an assist in the first game of his college career.
Zack Rose spent the entire game in net, making 24 saves.
Brett Pfoh and Dalton Norris made their collegiate debuts, while Zach Vinnell and Hunter Lellig played their first games for Bowling Green.

Ty's Take
"Winning the first game of the season is always fun. We're really proud of the effort, a lot of guys played well and played hard, which stuck out to our staff. We started well in the first and second periods and were able to stay focused and keep our composure down the stretch. Northern Michigan is a really good team that's going to win a lot of hockey games, so it's good to get this first win."

Up Next
Bowling Green and Northern Michigan play the second game of their series at 6:07 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 2).

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