Falcons Upset No. 16 Michigan, 4-2

Friday, November 20

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:35 PM

Bowling Green State University

Michigan

November 20, 2009 | Ice Hockey

By: by Ryan Gasser, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Box score
Dennis Williams post game audio

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Following a weekend split with then No. 9 Alaska Fairbanks where the Falcons garnered their first win of the season, Bowling Green made the trip to Ann Arbor, Mich. to begin a home-and-home series with the No. 15/16 University of Michigan Wolverines.

Having been swept by No. 1 Miami and in-state rival No.14/13 Michigan State over their last four games, Michigan looked to make a statement early against the Falcons. Both teams sputtered offensively as only two shots on goal were recorded in the game's first six minutes of the game, both taken by Michigan. Despite the lack of shots, there was plenty of action present as Bowling Green's front line defense kept the Wolverines from out in front of BG goaltender Nick Eno.

Bowling Green received the first power play chance of the evening following a UM tripping penalty on Chris Summers. The Wolverine defense stayed strong and repelled every Falcon charge as BG did not get a shot on net during the two-minute man advantage.

The Wolverines special teams continued its work against the Falcons when in the tenth minute, UM went on the power play following Robert Shea's penalty for grasping the facemask. Taking a charge to the net, UM junior forward Louie Caporusso took a shot against Eno with traffic out in front. Eno made the initial save, but the rebound would hit of a Falcon skate and find a hole, good for the game's first score and an early 1-0 Wolverine lead.

Senior David Solway and the Falcons returned the favor on Michigan goalie, Bryan Hogan within the last two minutes of the period. The Falcons would gain possession of the puck behind their own net and toss it up the ice to Solway. His initial shot bounced off the pillow of Hogan, but with a live puck out in front of the crease Solway picked up his own rebound and went top-shelf on Hogan to nod the game up at one. With that goal, he had then been responsible for the last three Falcon scores and was good for his third of the season. Freshmen Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Ian Ruel were credited with assists. With Ruel's second-hand helper, he records his first collegiate point as a Falcon.

Bowling Green finished the first period strong with tough defense in front of the net, thwarting multiple Wolverine charges. Bowling Green ended the first period with ten shots on goal matching the Wolverines.
The first 18 minutes of the second period was all defense and missed opportunities for both teams as the Falcons began the second period tied with their opponent for the first time this season. The momentum carried BG early spreading out their five second period shots over the first thirteen minutes, but could not put a shot on goal for the last seven minutes of the second frame.

Eno would again save nine of ten shots the Wolverines took in the second. The save that generated the loudest reaction from the 6,756 in attendance was recorded at 13:21 when Eno made a glove save on a Chris Brown one-timer. The puck squirted out of Eno's glove and landed out in front of the net. Unaware of where the puck laid, Eno sprawled out to lie on top of the loose puck to stop play and keep the score even.

At 7:57, the Falcons had a prime opportunity to take the lead on a two-on-one chance at the Michigan end. Samuels-Thomas and Solway again made their move toward the Wolverine net. With Solway open on the near-side, Samuels-Thomas led him just a bit too far with a pass while a wide open net was left uncontested.

Michigan was not without a missed opportunity either. Shortly after the Falcon missed scoring chance, UM's Brandon Burlon escaped traffic and sent a slap shot toward the top right corner of the Falcon cage and rang the post but with no score to show for the effort. They again came up empty near the thirteen minute mark when the puck was clear out in front of Eno but was scooped up by Michigan's Chris Langlais. His quick back hand shot caught Eno on the other side of the net, but fortunately flew wide.
Though the Falcon defense played strong for 95 percent of the second period, BG surrendered a late goal to the sixteenth ranked team in the nation with a tick past a minute remaining. Robbie Czarnik went to Eno's stick-side with a shot and simply beat the junior goaltender to take a 2-1 advantage going into the second intermission.

The Falcons returned to the ice in the third period with an intensity topping that of the first two periods of the game. The Wolverines helped BG with back-to-back penalties by UM defensemen Lee Moffie for tripping and Steve Kampfer for cross-checking, creating a five-on-three opportunity.
Directly off a faceoff in the Michigan zone, Kyle Page took passes from senior Tommy Dee and Samuels-Thomas and shot a laser past Hogan to tie the contest at two goals apiece. That would be one of two power play goals scored in the third period. The second was scored 1:14 later on a five-on-four still stemming from the Kampfer cross-check call.

Following a push toward the UM net, Solway took a Petruska pass and tipped the puck across the ice to Tommy Dee. Waiting in the near-side circle, Dee blazed a shot past Hogan for the Falcons' third goal of the game and second in 1:14 of time. Bowling Green took the lead 3-2 at that point, but they were not done scoring.

Exactly at the start of the sixth minute, Bowling Green struck gold again this time with an even-strength goal. Senior James Perkin lit up the red light for his second goal of the season and first in conference play this season. On the assist were two freshmen, Nathan Pageau and Max Grover, both scoring their second assists of the season. The Bowling Green three-goal scoring streak occurred within a 2:22 span and included six different Falcons.

The Falcon defense stood their ground the remainder of the period as the Wolverines increased the pressure to attempt the two goal comeback. Eno made three acrobatic saves in the last two minutes to stave off the UM rush with much credit going to defensemen Andrew Krelove, Ian Ruel, Max Grover and captain Kyle Page. The BG defense held strong and pulled the upset on No. 16 Michigan by a final score of 4-2.

The Falcons have now won two straight at the Yost Ice Arena after last year's 3-0 shutout win. Both of the Falcons' wins have come against ranked opponents. Last week, BGSU beat then No. 9 Alaska 3-1 for their first victory of the season.

Bowling Green will be back in action tomorrow for the second half of the home-and-home series with the Wolverines back in northwest Ohio. The game will be played at Lucas County Arena with the drop of the puck scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Falcons were outshot 31-21 and recorded only 11 shots on goal in the second and third periods combined after throwing ten on Hogan in the first period. Bowling Green only had three power play chances, but capitalized on two of them for goals against Michigan. The Wolverines had killed 91.5 percent of their opponent's power play chances before tonight, ranking them fifth in the country.
Eno earned his second win of the season after surviving 78 Wolverine shots, 31 of them on goal. He finished with 29 saves, 11 of which coming in the final frame.

With his two points in Friday's 4-2 win over Michigan, Solway has now been involved in six of the Falcons' last 10 goals scored. In that time, he has scored three of those goals and assisted on the remaining three.

Named Rookie of the Week for the week of Nov. 9, Samuels-Thomas continued his offensive dominance with a pair of assists against Michigan Friday night. He now has two consecutive games with two or more points in a contest after recording three points in the series finale against Alaska on Nov. 14. He now has a point or more in three consecutive games and at least one point in six of his last seven games.

Dee was named the game's first star after a two point (1-1) night. Samuels-Thomas and Eno were named second and third stars, respectively, after their performances Friday night.

The Falcons are now 2-8-1 overall and improve to 2-4-1-1 in conference play. Michigan falls to 4-7-0 and 2-5-0-0 in the CCHA. Bowling Green and Michigan will meet Saturday, Nov. 21 at Lucas County Arena (Toledo, Ohio) for the second of four games between the two teams. The puck is set to drop at 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for Saturday's game can be purchased through TicketMaster or at the Lucas County Arena box office.