Craggs Scores Two Goals As Falcons Drop Game Two

Saturday, March 5

Bemidji, Minn.

7:07 PM

Bowling Green State University

15-18-3

RV Bemidji State

17-19-0

#6 Bowling Green

#3 Bemidji State

Photo by: Evan Procaccini

March 05, 2022 | Ice Hockey

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By: by David Dietrich, BGSU Strategic Communications

BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bowling Green Falcons (15-18-3, 11-14-1-2) dropped the second game of the CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals to the Bemidji State Beavers (17-18-0, 14-12-0-1) by a score of 4-2. The Beavers scored the game's first three goals, with two in the opening period and a shorthanded score in the second period. Sam Craggs scored the next two goals to put the Falcons within one, but an empty net score gave BSU a crucial win. The teams will meet at 6:07 p.m. ET tomorrow, with the winner advancing to the CCHA Mason Cup Semifinals.

Scoring Plays

The Beavers were on the board first, scoring shortly after the night's first media timeout. Lukas Sillinger picked up a deflected puck at the Bowling Green blue line and passed it up the ice to Owen Sillinger. Owen swung it back to a trailing Lukas, who made a nifty move and went top-shelf for the game's opening goal. Assists went to Owen Sillinger and Will Magnuson.
With just under five minutes remaining in the opening frame, the Beavers killed a penalty and scored again. Alex Ierullo found an open Sam Solensky on the left side, then Solensky skated to the left circle. His shot snuck past Stoever, giving the Beavers a two-goal lead. Ierullo and Will Zmolek earned the assists.
BSU extended the lead early in the second period. The Falcons returned a skater to end a 4-on-4 session, but the Beavers were already in the offensive zone. Brad Johnson's pass rebounded off the end boards to a crashing Tyler Kirkup. Kirkup netted the shorthanded goal, with Johnson and Zmolek earning the assists.
The Falcons scored their first goal about five minutes later. Sam Craggs sent the puck up the left side to Eric Parker, who passed it back down to Taylor Schneider. Schneider made a perfect pass to a diving Craggs, who sent a one-timer into the net for BGSU's first goal. Schneider and Parker earned the assist.
Craggs tallied another score to trim the deficit to one. Early in the third period, Ben Wozney dove in front of the net to block a Bemidji State shot. It rebounded to Sam Craggs, who made a quick pass to Taylor Schneider. Schneider sent it right back to Craggs in the neutral zone, giving the Falcons a 2-on-1 rush. Craggs went top-shelf to beat the defenseman and goaltender, with Wozney and Schneider earning the assists.
The Beavers scored an empty net goal with 2:30 to go. After a faceoff in the Bowling Green zone, Brad Johnson and Lukas Sillinger traded passes. Johnson's shot from the BGSU blue line hit twine for the game's final goal.

Falcon Facts

Sam Craggs scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season, giving him 14 points. The senior extended his program record in games played to 180. In his career, he has 30 goals and 64 points. This game marked the assistant captain's first multi-point effort of the season and seventh of his career. He has two multi-goal performances in his career.
Taylor Schneider tallied his team-best 21^st and 22^nd assists of the year, pushing his team lead in points to 30. The senior has 50 assists and 83 points in his career. His multi-point performance was his tenth of the year, also a team-high. It was his fourth multi-assist effort, tying Gabriel Chicoine for the team lead. In his career, the forward has 17 multi-point games and seven multi-assist performances.
Eric Parker notched his 11^th assist of the season, giving the freshman defenseman 12 points.
Fellow freshman defenseman Ben Wozney also tallied an assist, his third of the season. All of his points this season have been assists.
Christian Stoever spent 57:26 in net and made 23 saves.

Ty's Take
"Another very competitive playoff hockey game tonight. Our guys hung in there and never quit. When we cut the lead to 3-2, we felt like we were going to tie it up. We need to get rested and be ready to go tomorrow."

Up Next
Bowling Green and Bemidji State will meet in the decisive third game at 6:07 p.m. ET tomorrow. The winner will advance to the CCHA Mason Cup Semifinals against Minnesota State. The semifinal game will be played in Mankato on Saturday, March 12.

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