Late third period comeback helps Falcons down Bulldogs

Bowling Green, OH – The Falcons have punched their ticket for another round of playoffs for the seventh straight season. They downed the Ferris State Bulldogs 5-3 Saturday to sweep their WCHA Quarterfinal match-up.

Chris Nell started in net for the Falcons, making 27 saves on 30 shots faced. Darren Smith got the nod for the Bulldogs, stopping 24 shots on 28 attempts.

First Period

The Falcons struck first at 3:39 of the opening period. Matt Pohlkamp collected a loose puck in the corner behind Ferris State’s net. Pohlkamp faked a move around his defender to get the puck to Joe McKeown. The sophomore forward lifted a shot high, beating Smith for his first goal of the season.

Bowling Green finished the first period with 11 shots on net, while Ferris State had 10 attempts.

Second Period

Pierre-Luc Mercier gave the Falcons a 2-0 lead with 1:23 while the Falcons were on a four-on-three power play. Kevin Dufour found Mercier across the crease for a one-timer shot. Mercier’s first shot was saved, but the rebound by Smith came right back to Mercier’s stick who buried the second chance. The goal was Mercier’s sixth goal of the season, and Chris Pohlkamp had the second assist on the play.

Ferris State picked up their first goal at 11:48 of the second period after Mitch Maloney finished off a passing play, beating Nell high to his blocker side.

Ferris State finished the period with 10 shots on net, while the Falcons had eight chances in the middle frame.

Third Period

Jason Tackett scored the game’s tying goal on the power play at 11:20 of the third period. Jason Tackett squeezed the puck underneath Nell’s pads after taking a cross-crease pass from Andrew Dorantes.

The Bulldogs took a 3-2 lead at 12:24 after Trevor Recktenwald tipped in a shot from Jacob Hetz. The puck appeared to be played by a high stick, but after a lengthy review the goal was upheld.

Bowling Green had a late chance to score the equalizing goal after Gerald Mayhew was called for a five-minute major and game misconduct for checking from behind at 13:20 of the third period. Kevin Dufour took advantage, and got the Falcons their third, and tying goal, at 17:12. Dufour backhanded a rebound from Mitch McLain for the power play goal. The goal was Dufour’s 14th of the season, and Pierre-Luc Mercier assisted on the play as well.

Alec Rauhauser played the part of hero at 17:48 as he deked around his defender, skated in on Smith and wristed a shot past the Bulldog goaltender. Mercier and Sean Walker assisted on the scoring play. The goal was Rauhauser sixth of the season.

Tyler Spezia added an empty net goal with 33.2 seconds remaining to finalize the win for the Falcons, giving him his eighth goal of the season.

With the win the Falcons improve to 19-17-2, while the Bulldogs fall to 13-19-5. Bowling Green will move on to the WCHA Semifinal round. Their opponent is dependent on results of the rest of the WCHA Quarterfinal games.