BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Bemidji State men’s hockey team continued its winning ways on Friday in Bowling Green, Ohio, defeating host Bowling Green 5-3 for its third consecutive conference victory.
Alex Ierullo put BSU (13-10, 11-4 CCHA) up 1-0 with a score 5:19 into the first period, while Ethan Somoza doubled it with a power-play score at 8:46. Moments before intermission, Tyler Kirkup snuck in a shorthanded goal before the buzzer at 19:49, giving the Beavers a 3-0 lead into the break.
But the Falcons (11-9-3, 8-6-1-1 CCHA) clawed back in the second period, scoring at 4:21 on a shot by Eric Parker. Sam Craggs scored a shortie at 19:47 to slash to lead to one heading to the third.
In the final 20, though, Bemidji State was the predator. The Beavers quickly stretched the lead with an Elias Rosén power-play goal at 1:23, with Jere Vaisanen adding another 5-on-4 score 30 seconds later for a 5-2 lead.
Austen Swankler gave Bowling Green some life with a power-play goal at 9:38, but two goals was as close as the Falcons would come.
ADVERTISEMENT
BSU freshman goaltender Mattias Sholl posted 30 saves in another standout performance, improving his record to 8-4. BGSU goaltenders didn’t fare nearly as well, combining for just 13 saves on 18 shots faced.
The two teams will match up again at 6:07 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15, back in Bowling Green.
Bemidji State 5, Bowling Green 3
BSU 3 0 2 -- 5
BGSU 0 2 1 -- 3
First period -- 1, BSU GOAL, Ierullo (O. Sillinger, L. Sillinger), 5:19; 2, BSU GOAL, Somoza (Rosén, O. Sillinger), 8:46, PP; 3, BSU GOAL, Kirkup (Ierullo), 19:49, SH.
Second period -- 4, BGSU GOAL, Parker (Lloyd, Swankler), 4:21; 5, BGSU GOAL, Craggs (Schneider), 19:47, SH.
Third period -- 6, BSU GOAL, Rosén (Armour, Ierullo), 1:23, PP; 7, BSU GOAL, Vaisanen (Kirkup), 1:53, PP; 8, BGSU GOAL, Swankler (Schneider, Parker), 9:38, PP.
ADVERTISEMENT
Saves -- Sholl (BSU) 30; Stoever (BGSU) 4; Rose (BGSU) 9.
