BGSU hockey (10-5-4, 7-3-3) returned to CCHA play with a 3-1 victory over Ferris State University (4-19-0, 3-12-0) in the first game of their weekend series in Big Rapids, Michigan.
The Falcons and the Bulldogs met earlier this season in a series held at the Slater Family Ice Arena, where the Orange and Brown secured a weekend sweep after defeating the Crimson and Gold by final scores of 9-5 and 5-2.
Bowling Green created dangerous scoring chances through all three periods and would outshoot FSU 41-17 by the end of the game.
BGSU would also win the shots on goal battle in every period by outshooting FSU 17-3 in the first period, 16-8 in the second, and 8-6 in the third.
Brody Waters led the Orange and Brown in shots as the junior forward took a total of five over the course of the game, with senior forward and alternate captain Jaden Grant’s four shots coming in a close second.
Despite being outplayed for much of the first period, Ferris State would start the scoring early in the second period when a cross-crease pass from senior forward Max Itagaki was punched in by junior defenseman Jack Mesic. Along with Itagaki, an additional assist was awarded to senior forward Gavin Best for his contribution to the play.
Waters would tie the game for the Falcons later in the second frame when the Heidelberg, Ontario native batted a puck out of midair and past FSU’s Hobie Hedquist for Waters’ fourth goal against the Bulldogs this season. Assists on the play were awarded to freshman forward Jake Sloan and redshirt senior defenseman Jackson Niedermayer.
Bowling Green would take the lead not long after Waters’ goal when Jaden Grant would score on a rebound during a power-play opportunity to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead heading into the second intermission. Assists were awarded to freshman defenseman Ty Higgins and freshman forward Dominik Rymon.
While the Falcons did continue to create dangerous scoring chances during the third period, Hedquist stood strong and did not concede another goal for the remainder of the game. The junior goaltender finished the game having made 38 saves while recording a .950 save percentage on the evening.
Bowling Green’s Cole Moore continued the strong form of play seen from the junior netminder during BG’s series against Ohio State (6-12-1, 2-7-0) last weekend as Moore stopped 16 of the 17 shots he faced to finish the game with a season best .941 save percentage.
While BG did continue to create scoring chances in the third period, their production did slow as the Falcons only took eight shots in the third period as opposed to the 17 and 16 shots they took in the first two periods of the game. BG also seemed more than willing to kill clock as the Falcons would pin the puck along the boards and/or control puck possession without forcing plays to kill time on multiple occasions throughout the final frame of regulation.
Freshman forward Brandon Whynott iced the game for the Falcons when he scored on an empty net for his first career collegiate goal after FSU pulled Hedquist for the extra attacker to give Bowling Green a 3-1 lead late in the third period. Junior forward Ben Doran and Waters were credited with the assists on the play.
Head coach Dennis Williams and the Orange and Brown will look to complete the weekend and season sweep over FSU as they play the second game of their series at Ferris State’s Ewigleben Ice Arena tonight, Jan. 10.
Falcon Media Sports Network’s Ben Corak will have the call live from Big Rapids on WBGU 88.1 FM with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
