Looking for a weekend conference sweep over visiting Alaska, it was the Bowling Green Falcons’ missed opportunities that were the undoing for them. Bowling Green had a 2-1 lead going into the third period, but was not able to hold the lead in a 2-2 tie. It was Alaska that earned the extra point in the WCHA standings with the shootout win.
“We had a one-goal lead going into the third period, and we made a poor decision on a rush that lead to the tying goal. Yea, it’s a missed opportunity for us with that lead and us not being able to keep it for the last 20 minutes,” Bowling Green coach Chirrs Bergeron said.
The first period saw each team score once to go into the locker room tied at one. The Falcons got on the board first on a goal from Frederic Letourneau at 9:54. After an Alaska shot deflected off the post, Brandon Kruse created a breakout opportunity after a turnover in the Falcons’ zone. Kruse sent a pass to Max Johnson in front of the goal, who dished to Letourneau, who sent a shot from the left circle for his second goal of the season.
Alaska got the tying goal a short time later when Kylar Hope got to a puck that was laying in the crease to bang it home at 12:26.
The second period saw a total of six power plays that disrupted to flow of the game. The only goal of the period came on a Bowling Green power play. Bowling Green had several chances on their first power play of the game, but needed nearly the full time to score. Mitch McLain won a faceoff in the Falcons’ offensive zone that went directly to Cameron Wright, who found Stephen Baylis alone in front, and Baylis sent it home for a 2-1 lead with 14 seconds left in the power play at 12:44 left in the period. Each team tallied 11 shots in the period.
The third period was another of those missed chances for the Falcons, as Alaska got the only goal of the period off a rush up the ice. Just before the halfway mark of the period coming up the ice, the Nanooks got the tying goal from Justin Woods.
Although the Falcons had pressure most of the period, they couldn’t solve Nanooks goalie Anton Martinsson.
“Our third Period was pretty good; we found a level that we couldn’t find for most of the hockey game, but just couldn’t get that next goal,” said Bergeron.
“Anytime you get the win on Friday night and have a chance to sweep, yea we feel we let one slip tonight.” said Baylis. “We had many chances in the second period to put the game away, and we left them in the game. Anytime you let a team that works like they do hang around, they will make you pay.”
The Falcons did earn four points on the weekend with a record of 3-3-1 and 2-1-1 in league play, while the Nanooks are now 2-4-2 and 0-1-1 on the year. Next weekend, the Falcons will travel to Michigan Tech and the Nanooks will go home to face Bemidji State.
WCHA roundup, Oct. 28
No. 12 Minnesota State 5, No. 16 Michigan Tech 3
Minnesota State scored three unanswered goals in the third period for the come-from-behind 5-3 victory and weekend sweep over Michigan Tech. The Mavericks had 12 different players get on the score sheet, including five different goal scorers. Jake Jackson scored twice for the Huskies, who had a 3-2 lead after two periods but couldn’t hold on to it. In the deciding third period, the Mavericks got goals from Connor Mackey, Daniel Brickley (game-winner), and C.J. Suess.
Michigan State 6 Lake Superior 0
The Spartans used a four-goal second period to break open a tight game and roll to a 6-0 win and a weekend sweep over the visiting Lakers. The Spartans got two goals from Mitchell Lewandowski to lead the way. Cody Milan, Taro Hirose, and Dylan Pavelek had two assists each. John Lethermon got the shutout with 15 saves.
Cornell 3, Alabama-Huntsville 0
Cornell defeated the visiting Chargers 3-0 to complete a weekend sweep. Trevor Yates scored two goals and added one assist, while Yanni Kaldis added two helpers to lead the Big Red to victory. Mathew Galajda had 11 saves to earn the shutout.
Bemidji State 3, Ferris State 0
Bemidji got two goals from Myles Fitzgerald in the third period to break open a close game and defeat the Ferris State Bulldogs, 3-0. After a scoreless first period, Dan Billet opened the scoring for the Beavers in the second period. Michale Bitzer made 19 saves to earn the shutout.
