TWO TOUGH LOSSES: 'Cats Fall At Bowling Green

These stories were written by NMU Sports Information. (NMU Photo)

SATURDAY GAME RECAP

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - The NMU hockey team dropped game two of its seres against the Bowling Green State Falcons by a final score of 4-3, Saturday night, in Ohio.

 

The Falcons scored two goals in the opening minute and thirty seconds of the game to jump out to an early lead. A goal before the period ended and a goal to start the third period and the Wildcats tied things up at two-a-piece. 

 

A pair of late goals from Brody Waters saw the Falcons regain its two-goal lead, NMU scored with 30 seconds left to get it back to a one-goal game, a shot with a few seconds left narrowly missed the crossbar, and the Falcons slipped away with the weekend sweep.

 

The Wildcats (1-16-1, 0-11-1) got goals from Jesse Tucker (1), Aidyn Hutchinson (3), Anthony Cliche (3), and multi-point games from both Hutchinson (1-1--2) and Jakub Lewandowski (0-2--2). The Falcons (7-7-2, 4-4-2) were led by Brody Waters (2-0--2) and Brett Pfoh (0-2--2).

 

Nicolas Ardanaz, Grayden Slipec, and Matthew Romer all picked up assists on the evening.

 

Turning in another stellar night between the pipes was Ryan Ouellette, who made 44 saves to go with a .917 SV%, marking the third time this year he's made 40+ saves in a game and tying his second-highest single-game save total of the season. 

 

The Wildcats were unable to break through on the man advantage, going 0/4 on an evening where the Falcons had a five-minute major called against them. NMU went 3/4 on the penalty kill, with the only power-play goal allowed coming with just over three minutes left in the game.

 

The Wildcats now have its sights set on the Great Lakes Invitational tournament, where the team will square off against Michigan State from Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Sunday, December 29.

FRIDAY GAME RECAP

BOWLING GREEN, OHIO - The Northern Michigan University hockey team dropped game one of the weekend series in Ohio Friday night, losing to the Bowling Green State Falcons, 2-0.

The Wildcats (1-15-1, 0-10-1 CCHA) controlled two of the three periods, out-shooting the Falcons 12-9 and 8-7 in the first and third periods respectively. The Falcons (6-7-2, 3-4-2 CCHA) lone tally with the netminder between the pipes came in the second period.

Ben Doran shoveled a pass into the slot that took a bad bounce off of a Wildcat defenseman's skate, redirecting past a sliding Ryan Ouellette, who had no chance from the pass that changed directions. The Falcons would score with the goalie pulled under a minute to play, and the game would end 2-0.

Ouellette was spectacular between the pipes, making 31 saves and posting a .969 SV%, marking this the seventh time this season he's made 30+ saves in a game and his second best single-game save percentage.

The goalie on the other side, Christian Stoever, returned from injury and turned in a 24-save shutout in only his second appearance of the season. Quinn Emerson led the way for the Falcons offensively, scoring the empty-net goal and registering the lone assist on Doran's tally.

The 'Cats were unable to break through on its only power play opportunity, but were stifling on both of the Falcons two man advantage's, only allowing two shots on goal from non-dangerous positions from three shot attempts.