Union goaltender Kris Mayotte stopped 35 shots in keeping his team unbeaten on the season as the Dutchmen (4-0-1, 0-0-0 ECAC) and the Bowling Green Falcons (1-4-1, 1-4-0 CCHA) skated to a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.
“I’m not happy about the tie,” said Union coach Nate Leaman, “but I’m happy with the way we competed. This was the best complete game we’ve played. We put together a 60-minute game tonight.”
Leaman’s Dutchmen are unbeaten in five games this year, the longest unbeaten streak for the program in its Division I history.
“We don’t think about that,” said Leaman. “We’re just taking things game by game right now. We’re learning every day.”
While Mayotte continued his stellar play in net, sophomore goaltender Jordan Sigalet was equal to the task for BG. During an overtime flurry of shots, Sigalet was somehow able to keep the puck out of the net.
The Dutchmen had a golden opportunity to win the game during a scrum at the net, but could not put the puck across the line.
“The puck was on the line,” said Sigalet. “[Brett] Pilkington was able to dive into the crease and hold it out until I could get on top of it.”
The Falcons continued in their hard-luck ways, firing 36 shots on net, but converting only once. Bowling Green outshot the Dutchmen for a second straight night.
“We’re going through a situation right now where we’re not able to score goals,” explained BG coach Scott Paluch. “We held in well enough tonight to get a tie. We’ve got to find some ways to produce some positive results.”
Union opened up the scoring 4:41 into the second period, getting its first goal from sophomore winger Jason Visser. Visser picked up a rebound just outside the crease and stuffed it past Sigalet for the 1-0 lead. Glenn Sanders and Chris DiStefano assisted. For Visser, it was his first career collegiate goal.
Bowling Green answered with just over three minutes left in the period. Forward Mike Falk let a shot go from between the circles which was stopped by Mayotte. Mark Wires picked up the rebound and found the open net for the 1-1 tie. Don Morrison also assisted on the play.
Union had quality chances in overtime, but could not convert. Bowling Green did not get a shot on net in the extra period.
The Falcons will continue their homestand next weekend as they host the Miami RedHawks in a conference series. The Dutchmen are back on the road Friday night as they square off against New Hampshire. Game time for each team is 7:05 p.m.
