Bowling Green posted a 3-2 overtime victory against Alabama-Huntsville in the first game of their Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at the Ice Arena.
The Falcons, ranked 15th nationally, improved 6-3-3 overall and 3-2-2 in the WCHA. UAH is 3-5-1, 2-4-1.
The teams play again Saturday night at 7:07 in the Ice Arena.
FIRST PERIOD
The Falcons scored the only goal of the period at 10:04 when Kevin Dufour slid in a rebound from the right side of the crease.
Mark Friedman started the play, feeding the puck from the point to Shane Bednard at the top of the crease.
Bednard took the puck from his backhand to his forehand, but his shot was stopped by goalie Matt Larose. The rebound went directly to Dufour on the right side of the crease for the goal.
Nell had six saves in the period as the Falcons held a 7-4 edge in shots.
SECOND PERIOD
Neither team scored in the period.
Nell saved the Falcons for about a three-minute stretch just past the midway point of the period.
The Chargers dominated, trapping the Falcons in their own zone. Nell responded with six saves, including several from close in.
The Falcons had nine shots in the period to eight for UAH.
THIRD PERIOD
The Chargers tied the game with a 5 on 3 power-play goal at 1:34.
Chad Brears’ shot from the right side of the deep slot went in off the post and Nell.
Moments later, the Falcons had a chance to take the lead on a short-handed rush by Mark Cooper. But Cooper slid a backhander wide of the net.
Brett D’Andrea gave the lead back to the Falcons at 6:52. He fired a one-timer past Larose off a pass from Brandon Hawkins. The puck went in off Larose’s glove.
UAH came right back to tie the game on Jetlan Houcher’s goal at 9:26. Houcher was left alone in front for the goal.
The Falcons outshot UAH by an 8-6 margin.
OVERTIME
Hawkins won it from the deep slot with a laser, beating Larose on the stick side and inside the left post with 2:08 remaining.
The Falcons had the only two shots in overtime to finish the game with a 26-18 edge in shots. Nell finished with 16 saves.
Stats
| UAH | BGSU | |
|---|---|---|
| 0-0-2-0 | Goals by Period | 1-0-1-1 |
| 4-8-6-0 | Shots by Period | 7-9-8-4 |
| 2-5, 5 | PPs, Shots | 3-5, 10 |
| 5/10:00 | Penalties/Minutes | 5/10:00 |
| 25 | Face-Off Wins | 34 |
Three Stars
- Brandon Hawkins (BGSU) – 1 GWG , 1A, 4 shots
- Brett D’Andrea (BGSU) – 1 G, 2 shots
- Jetlan Houcher (UAH) – 1 G, 3 shots
Photo Gallery
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All photos copyright of Todd Pavlack/BGSUHockey.com
