Four Goal Second-Period Lifts Bowling Green To Game One Win Over FSU In WCHA Playoffs

Note: Photos Courtesy Todd Pavlack/BGSUHockey.com

Bowling Green, Ohio - Four second-period goals by the Bowling Green  Falcons sunk the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team by the final of 6-1 in game one of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) First Round Playoffs on Friday (March 3) night at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

Ferris State senior forward Jared VanWormer scored the lone Bulldog goal on a deflection for his career-high ninth lamplighter of the year in the setback.

The Falcons leapt out to a 2-0 lead with Matt Pohlkamp scoring the first goal for BGSU at 6:46 of the opening frame from Tyler Spezia and Sean Walker. BGSU's Stephen Baylis scored next at 9:15 off a shot that ricocheted off the end board and onto his stick from Pierre-Luc Mercier.

Ferris State freshman goaltender Justin Kapelmaster allowed the first two goals on five shots before sophomore goaltender Darren Smith came on in relief.

VanWormer's goal for Ferris State came at the 12:47 mark of the opening power play, 17 seconds into a five-minute major power play. Senior forward Chad McDonald earned his 10th assist of the year with fellow senior forward Gerald Mayhew notching his 17th as the Bulldogs trimmed the deficit in half.

BGSU's Pohlkamp scored his second marker of the game at 2:58 of the second period from Brett D'Andrea and Tyler Spezia for the Falcons' lone power play goal and a 3-1 lead.

The Falcons struck again 58 seconds later on a breakaway goal by Sean Walker from Pohlkamp for a 4-1 advantage.

Next, Alec Rauhauser jumped in on the action 1:59 later for a 5-1 Falcon lead. Mitch McLain and Pohlkamp earned helpers on Rauhauser's shot through traffic.

Bowling Green capped the scoring at 17:47 of the second period when Lukas Craggs beat Smith down low. Walker and Brett D'Andrea both earned assists on Craggs' goal for the 6-1 final.

Kapelmaster returned to start the third period and no scoring on either side took place in the final 20 minutes of play.

Kapelmaster made nine saves for Ferris State with Smith making 18 in relief.

The Falcons won in shots on goal 33-28 for the game, but the Bulldogs had a 15-6 advantage in the game's final frame.

Ferris State and Bowling Green move to game two of the best-of-three series on Saturday (March 4) at 7:07 p.m. (ET) at the Slater Family Ice Arena, with Ferris State looking to force a game three on Sunday (March 5) night.