BGSU hockey (2-2, 2-0) traveled to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to face the Lakers of Lake Superior State University (2-4, 0-2) for their first weekend series of Central Collegiate Hockey Association play.
After securing a 4-1 victory on Friday night, the Falcons completed the sweep of the Lakers via a 3-2 victory on Saturday, Oct. 25.
It was a battle of the freshmen goaltenders as BGSU’s Jacob Steinman and LSSU’s Andrew Oke were both given the nod to start for their respective teams.
For Steinman, this was his collegiate debut and his first career collegiate start. Steinman would finish the game having made 31 saves while recording a .939 save percentage in his first career appearance.
Oke, appearing in his third game for the Lakers, finished the night with a .921 save percentage after making 35 saves.
The Falcons would open the scoring after a shot from junior defenseman Rihards Simanovičs trickled through Oke and across the goal line for the Riga, Latvia native’s first goal in the Orange and Brown after transferring from Miami (OH). Senior forward Jackson Niedermayer and freshman forward Jake Sloan were credited with assists on the play. Sloan’s assist marked the freshman’s first career collegiate point.
Freshman forward Hunter Ramos would respond for the Lakers and tie the game before the end of the first period after firing the puck past Steinman on a one-on-one opportunity with the BG netminder. Junior forward Carter Batchelder and sophomore forward William Ahlrik were credited with the goal’s assists.
Lake Superior would take its first lead of the weekend with a power-play tally in the second period after a one-timer blast from junior defenseman Johnny Druskinis was tipped in by senior forward and Laker’s captain Sasha Teleguine. Along with Druskinis, junior defenseman Evan Bushy was awarded the other assist on the play.
Unfortunately for the Lake Superior State fans in attendance at the Taffy Abel Arena, this would be the last time the Lakers would have a lead, as junior forward Tyler Hotson would tie the game on a Falcon power play after firing in a one-timer opportunity from a well-placed pass from junior forward Ben Doran. Junior defenseman Breck McKinley also recorded an assist on the play.
The game-winning goal for the Falcons would come early in the third period, thanks to freshman defenseman Brayden Crampton firing a slapshot past Oke for his first career collegiate goal. Doran would pick up his second assist of the game on the goal, with an additional assist going to freshman forward Dominik Rymon.
The win gives the Falcons another three points toward the CCHA standings as they leave Sault Ste. Marie had collected all six points that were available in the weekend series.
Notable performers for the Falcons include Doran, who took five shots and blocked three LSSU shots to go along with his two assists.
Sophomore Ivan Korodiuk had yet another impressive defensive performance for the Orange and Brown as the defenseman blocked a total of five shots during the contest.
On top of scoring his first collegiate goal, Crampton also led the Falcons in shots on goal with six recorded over the course of the game.
Head coach Dennis Williams and the Falcons will look for another series sweep next weekend as they return home to the Slater Family Ice Arena for a series against the Bemidji State Beavers.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak will have the call both nights on WBGU 88.1 FM and will be joined by Sean Connelly and Nathan Burkett over the course of the weekend.
