Falcons Grind Out 2-1 Win Over Michigan State - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Falcons Grind Out 2-1 Win Over Michigan State

BOWLING GREEN -- The Bowling Green State University ice hockey team defeated Michigan State Friday night, beating the Spartans by a score of 2-1 at the BGSU Ice Arena. Freshman Ben Murphy and Sophomore Ryan Carpenter scored for the Falcons, while freshman netminder Tommy Burke turned away 17-of-18 shots. The Falcons dominated the special teams, going 2-for-5 on the night with the man advantage, while holding the Spartans to 0-for-3. 

Michigan State scored the first goal of the contest, netting a short-handed marker just 3:28 into the opening period. Spartan Greg Wolfe stole the puck at the Michigan State blue line, and moved in on the Bowling Green net for a breakaway. Wolfe wristed the puck past Burke for his fifth goal of the season, and gave Michigan State the early 1-0 lead.

Bowling Green answered back just under a minute later with the man advantage, tying the contest at 1-1. The Falcons moved the puck around the Michigan State zone, before Murphy took possession at the bottom of the far circle. Murphy turned a fired a wrist shot from an unorthodox angle, sneaking the puck past Spartan goaltender Will Yanakeff for his third goal of the season.

The Falcons pulled ahead of Michigan State at the 12:25 mark of the middle frame, thanks to another Orange and Brown power play goal. Junior Chad Sumsion started the play, diving at a loose puck at the Michigan State blue line. The puck squeaked by the Spartan defenders, giving Bowling Green a 2-on-1 break. Freshman Mark Cooper passed the puck to the slot, where Carpenter was waiting for a one-timer. Carpenter's tally marked his team-leading 12th goal of the season, and gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

The Falcons dominated the shot department in the final frame, outshooting the Spartans, 10-5.  Michigan State manufactured a few chances in the third period, but Burke held strong for the Orange and Brown to secure the 2-1 Falcon victory.

The win pushes Bowling Green's winning streak to six games at the BGSU Ice Arena, with the Falcons' last home loss coming to Notre Dame on Dec. 15, 2012. Bowling Green is now 11-13-5 overall, with a record of 8-10-3-1 in the CCHA. The Falcons now sit alone at seventh place in the conference with 25 points, trailing sixth-place Alaska by six points in the standings.

Friday night marked the Falcons' first win against Michigan State at the BGSU ice Arena since Feb. 1, 2009, snapping a three-game losing streak to the Spartans in Bowling Green.

Carpenter's goal in the second period pushed his current point streak to 13 games, giving him eight goals and eight assists in that span.