Falcons Fall To Broncos In Series Opener Battle

Friday, October 20

Bowling Green, Ohio

7:07 p.m.

Bowling Green State University

1-4-0

Western Michigan

2-0-1

Western Mich.

Bowling Green

October 20, 2023 | Ice Hockey

Box Score Ty Eigner Press Conference Josh Nodler Press Conference Support Our Student-Athletes

By: by Kenna Hancock, BGSU Athletics

Bowling Green, Ohio- The Bowling Green Falcons (1-4-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) dropped a Friday night contest to the No. 9 Western Michigan Broncos (2-0-1, 0-0-0 NCHC) by a score of 5-2. The two teams battled in front of a 4,862 crowd in Slater Family Ice Arena Friday, October 20. The Broncos started the scoring early in the first period, the Falcons responded in the second scoring two goals less than a minute of each other. Then Western Michigan scored four unanswered goals to secure the series opener.

Scoring Plays

Western Michigan's Dylan Wendt intercepted a pass from the Falcons and took the puck down the ice himself at 12:33 in the first period, also being the only goal of the period.
Josh Nodler added the first goal for the Falcons in the second period at 9:17. Michael Bevilacqua hit the puck down the ice, leaving the puck wide open in front of the goal for Nodler to tie the game up.
Ryan O'Hara added a tally less than a minute later (8:47), to put the Falcons in the lead for the first time of the game. O'Hara found an opening to the left of the net, hit the puck in the middle and a hit off a Bronco's stick into the back of the net. Assist came from Ben Doran and Brody Waters.
Western Michigan responded not soon after to tie the game up at 4:08 in the second period. Luke Grainger moves past Bevilacqua and hits the puck right past Moore's right hip, making the game 2-2 to end the second.
Joe Cassetti was set open in front of the net, when he got a pass from Tim Washe off a Falcon turnover (15:28) early in the third.
Sam Colangelo of Western Michigan took advantage of a Falcon turnover. Colangelo found the puck after it hit off a skate and guided it down to Falcon territory at 4:43 in the third to then back-hand the puck past Moore to move the Broncos 4-2.
The Broncos added a late goal at the end of the third with an empty net goal from Dylan Wendt, assist came from Joe Cassetti and Luke Grainger.

Falcon Facts

Josh Nodler tallied his first goal in the Orange and Brown, as well as lead all players with 15 face off wins on the night.
Ben Doran and Brody Waters both added their first collegiate assist in the Ryan O'Hara goal.
Ryan O'Hara scored his second goal of the season and 17th career goal in the Orange in Brown, tying with Dalton Norris on points on the season (3).
Cole Moore tallied 30 saves in the net, totaling 56 saves through two games.

Up Next
Bowling Green will play the second game of the series against Western Michigan in Lawson Ice Arena, puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in Kalamazoo, Michigan

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