BOWLING GREEN, OHIO – The Western Michigan hockey team moved to 2-0-1 on the season after defeating Bowling Green, 5-2, on Friday night at Slater Family Ice Arena.
FIRST PERIOD
The Broncos controlled play early, with
Ethan Phillips and
Dylan Wendt getting a pair of shots in the opening minute of the game. With just over 12 minutes left in the first period, Wendt took a BGSU turnover down the ice and beat Cole Moore for the game's first goal and his third of the season.
From there, BGSU was able to get some looks on net, but
Cameron Rowe and the WMU defense were there to stop the offensive attack. As the game moved to the second half of the first 20 minutes,
Samuel Sjolund nearly put the Broncos in front by two goals, but his shot was handled by Moore.
Down the stretch of the period, the Broncos would get looks on net from
Tim Washe,
Sam Colangelo,
Luke Grainger and
Cole Crusberg-Roseen. However, nothing would find the back of the net, and the Brown and Gold carried a one-goal lead into the second period.
SECOND PERIOD
Western Michigan again controlled play in the early going, as
Ean Somoza,
Carter Berger and Phillips each had shots in the opening five minutes of the period.
During the middle portion of the period, Bowling Green would net two goals to take a 2-1 lead, with Josh Nodler and Ryan O'Hara getting goals for the Falcons. Following those two goals, both teams would be assessed minor penalties for roughing. As those minors ended, Grainger took a loose puck into the center of the attacking zone and ripped a wrist shot by Moore to tie the game at 2-2 with 4:08 left to play in the second 20 minutes.
Moments later, Crusberg-Roseen would serve a too many men on the ice penalty for the Broncos. BGSU would get just one shot on the man advantage, and Western Michigan eventually returned to full strength. The two teams entered the final period tied at 2-2.
THIRD PERIOD
Matteo Costantini was sent off for tripping early in the final frame, and the Broncos made some big plays to keep the game tied. Berger jumped in front of a shot to save a goal and Rowe made a couple big-time saves to help WMU get back to full strength.
A few minutes after the penalty kill, the Broncos made BGSU pay for another turnover, as Washe found
Joe Cassetti in front of the net, and he buried a shot into the back of the net to give WMU a 3-2 lead with just over 15 minutes to play in the game.
The Broncos would then get their first chance on the man advantage, as the Falcons had a player sent off for tripping. On the power play, WMU would get three shots, but nothing would get by Moore, and the score would stay 3-2 in favor of the visitors.
As the game ticked down, Colangelo would backhand a shot into the top of the net, moving the score to 4-2 in favor of the Broncos with just over four minutes remaining. BGSU would pull its goalie a few minutes later, and Wendt would add a fifth goal for WMU. The Broncos went on to win by a final score of 5-2.
UP NEXT
WMU and BGSU will play again tomorrow night at Lawson Arena. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m.
