Late Surge By Host Bowling Green Ends Bulldogs' Season In First-Round Playoff Action

Late Surge By Host Bowling Green Ends Bulldogs' Season In First-Round Playoff Action

Big Rapids, Mich. - Three late goals from host Bowling Green lifted the Falcons to a 5-3 triumph over the Ferris State University men's ice hockey squad in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) action on Saturday (March 4) night as the Bulldogs saw their season come to an end in the first-round playoffs at the Slater Family Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio.

BGSU took an early lead in the second game of the weekend series when Joe McKeown tallied a goal at 3:39 of the first frame off the assist from Matt Pohlkamp.

The Falcons increased their lead to 2-0 at 1:23 of the second period when Pierre-Luc Mercier notched a power play goal aided by Kevin Dufour and Chris Pohlmamp, giving BGSU the advantage over the Bulldogs.

Ferris State answered back, though, with forward Mitch Maloney recording FSU's first marker at 11:48 of the second off assists from senior forward Gerald Mayhew and Andrew Dorantes.

The Bulldogs later evened the score a two goals each when Jason Tackett scored on the power play at 11:20 of the third period off assists from Dorantes and Joe Rutkowski. Ferris State followed soon after with another lamplighter from forward Trevor Recktenwald at 12:24 of the third off a Jacob Hetz assists, giving FSU a 3-2 lead after a lengthy review.

However, Bowling Green responded and took advantage of a five-minute major power play with a pair of goals to reclaim the edge. The first came from Dufour at 17:12 of the third and was assisted by Mitch McLain and Pierre-Luc Mercier. Soon after, Alex Rauhauser found the back of the net at 17:48 of the third with assists to Mercier and and Sean Walker, giving BGSU a 4-3 lead.

The Falcons later added a power-play goal from Tyler Spezia at 19:26 of the third with Matt Pohlkamp and Mark Friendman assisting to account for the final margin.

FSU held a slim 30-29 edge in total shots for the game and went 1-of-3 with the man-advantage compared to BGSU's 4-of-8 showing.

Bowling Green State's Chris Nell won his 15th game in net for the Falcons this year with 27 saves in 60 minutes while FSU's Darren Smith made 24 saves on the Bulldog side.

Ferris State wraps up the season with the setback as BGSU advances to the WCHA Best-of-Three Semifinals next weekend. The Bulldogs will graduate four seniors in forwards Chad McDonald, Gerald Mayhew and Jared VanWormer along with defenseman Ryan Lowney.