The BGSU hockey team (8-5-4) drew the Ohio State Buckeyes (6-10-1) 2-2 in regulation for their fourth draw of the season, in a Friday game in Columbus. The result also gives the Buckeyes their first tie of the season.
The scoring opened with a goal by Buckeye senior forward Jake Dunlap in the first period. In the second period, another Ohio State forward, Riley Thompson, scored on a power play.
In the third period, however, BGSU mounted a comeback. Four minutes and 41 seconds into the third period, Falcon junior defenseman Breck McKinley scored, assisted by junior forwards Tyler Hotson and Ben Doran.
Just over four minutes later, senior forward Brett Pfoh tied the game on an assist from Doran and senior forward Jackson Niedermayer. The Falcons held out defensively for the rest of the period, forcing overtime.
No one scored in OT, and each team had just one shot on goal. In the shootout, though, BG could not overcome the Buckeyes. Both teams’ first five skaters missed. The Falcons’ sixth skater, junior defenseman Rihards Simanovics, missed his attempt. OSU sophomore forward James Hong made his, to earn the extra point.
The two teams were nearly even in multiple major stats. BG had 40 shots on goal, compared to 37 for OSU; the Falcons had 67 total shots, while the Buckeyes had 65; and the Orange and Brown had five penalties, with the Scarlet and Gray accumulating three.
The main statistical difference was in faceoffs, as OSU won 43 compared to just 24 for BG.
Both goalkeepers played well, with the Falcons’ junior goalie Cole Moore having a .935 save percentage and recording 29 saves, and the Buckeyes’ Kristoffer Eberly having a .941. Moore made his first start for the Falcons since Nov. 7 against Minnesota State.
“I went into this game not putting a ton of pressure on myself,” Moore said. “I’ve been doing the work behind the scenes to get back into the lineup.”
In a big comeback, head coach Dennis Williams saw a lot of positives in the Falcons’ performance against the Buckeyes.
“I definitely liked our no-quit mentality; we scored some really nice goals,” Williams said. “It’s going to be a battle tomorrow, and we’re going to have to hit the reset button.”
The Falcons wrap up this stretch of nonconference scheduling with a rematch against the Buckeyes on Jan. 3, at 6:07 p.m. in the Slater Family Ice Arena. Coverage can be found at bgfalconmedia.com and on WBGU 88.1 FM. Coverage can be found at bgfalconmedia.com and on WBGU 88.1 FM.
