BGSU hockey (16-9-6 13-7-3 CCHA) hosted the No. 17 Minnesota State Mavericks (17-9-5, 13-7-3) at Slater Family Ice Arena on Saturday, losing 2-1 in shootout.
The Mavericks previously defeated the Falcons 5-4 in Friday night’s matchup. Saturday’s game was senior night, with seniors Jackson Niedermayer, Brett Pfoh, Dalton Norris, Quinn Emerson, Jack Blake and Jaden Grant being honored pregame.
Norris made a point to return from injury and play.
“During the injury process, you lose a little bit of self-belief and don’t know how it’s going to go,” Norris said. “This was a game I didn’t want to miss. I had family in town, and obviously, there is a lot on the line for our team.”
Just three minutes into the game, sophomore forward Liam Watkins opened the scoring for the Mavericks.
Late in the first period, Grant had an opportunity at a slapshot right down the middle; but as he took the shot, his stick was broken. BG entered a power play, but failed to score on it. Minnesota State took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
In the second period, junior forward Ben Doran served a two-minute penalty, putting the Falcons on their first penalty-kill of the game. BG succeeded on the penalty kill, keeping Minnesota State from scoring.
The Orange and Brown had multiple scoring opportunities in the slot, but struggled to capitalize.
Junior goaltender Cole Moore stayed in net to finish the series for the Falcons, making several clutch saves throughout the contest. He finished with 37 saves and a .974 save percentage.
Junior defenseman Gustav Stjernberg had a golden scoring chance in the second period, but the shot was blocked by senior Maverick goaltender Alex Tracy.
BG struggled with offense, having just 12 shots on goal at the end of the second period and 26 at the end of the game.
Tensions ran high, with some scrums breaking out later in the matchup.
Halfway through the third period, Maverick senior defenseman Ralfs Bergmanis committed interference, giving BG a two-minute power play. They failed to score, finishing 0-for-4 on power plays.
“We were just a bit off today,” head coach Dennis Williams said. “It wasn’t for lack of them being ready or not wanting to perform; it’s just the way it goes. We can’t sit here and dwell on it, we got two big games left.”
With just over seven minutes left in the third period, freshman forward Dominik Rymon drove in a shorthanded score assisted by Niedermayer, leveling the game at 1-1.
Entering the final three minutes, BG had 17 shots on goal compared to 33 for the Mavericks. Freshman forward Brandon Whynott took a strong slapshot to try and take the lead in the final minute, but the shot went wide right.
The two teams sparred back and forth for most of overtime. In the final minute, Doran had a breakaway chance on the puck, but could not catch up to it, leading to a turnover. A shootout was forced.
Moore blocked the first shot by Minnesota State, which came from Ean Somoza. Freshman forward Noah Morneau was the first Falcon shooter, and he missed off the left bar of the net.
Jordan Ronn scored for Minnesota State. Rymon tied it up for BG.
Both teams traded unsuccessful attempts for the next three rounds, before Mavericks forward Jack Smith sealed the 2-1 shootout win.
BG finishes their regular season with a road series against Michigan Tech, which begins Friday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.
