The Falcon hockey team split the weekend series against the Northern Michigan University Wildcats to remain in the hunt to host a WCHA playoff game.
On Friday night, BG was unable to overcome a 4-0 deficit on the road and lost 4-1 to the Wildcats. Forward Ryan Carpenter scored the only goal for the Falcons, as goaltender Tommy Burke made 21 saves in the losing effort.
“That’s the funk we’re in right now,” BG head coach Chris Bergeron said. “We’re not generating enough offense, and every time we break down defensively, the puck winds up in our net.”
In Saturday’s game, BG defeated the Wildcats 3-2 to even the weekend series. Carpenter, Ralfs Freibergs and Mike Sullivan each scored a goal for the Falcons. Burke made 37 saves to help secure the win.
Freibergs scored his first goal for the Falcons since being back from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where he represented Team Latvia.
With the win, the Falcons ended a five-game winless streak. Their last victory came on Jan. 25 against Lake Superior State. BG remains in fourth place in a tight battle in the WCHA for the final home playoff spot.
“We’ve struggled the last little bit to win games,” Bergeron said. “We haven’t played good enough for long enough in games, but tonight we found a way to win and I’m really happy for the guys.”
The Falcons held a 3-0 lead for the majority of the game and won 13 face-offs in the first period.
“We felt we were jumping in the first period,” Bergeron said. “Our start set the tone for the game, and gave us some positive thoughts, some positive momentum which we’ve been struggling with a little bit.”
Northern Michigan scored twice within 15 seconds during the second period to make it a one-goal deficit. However, BG was able to hold the Wildcats scoreless for the rest of the night and earn an important win in conference play.
The Falcons will continue regular season play this weekend against Bemidji State at the BGSU Ice Arena March 7 and 8. BG will play the Beavers in the only regular season series matchup between the two teams. This will also be the final home series for the Falcons in the final weekend of the 2013-2014 regular season.
The puck will drop at 7:07 p.m. on both nights.
