Hockey Splits Series with Michigan State after Late Third Period Goal

Saturday, October 14

East Lansing, Mich.

7:05PM

Bowling Green State University

1-2

Michigan State

1-1

Bowling Green

Michigan State

Hockey Splits Series with Michigan State after Late Third Period Goal

October 14, 2017 | Ice Hockey

Box Score

By: Jenna Jorgensen (Assistant Director of Athletic Communications)

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Bowling Green hockey program (1-2-0, 0-0-0 WCHA) split a home-and-home series with former CCHA rival Michigan State (1-1-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten), as the Spartans late third period goal lifted them to a 3-2 victory at home.

Box Score

Statistical Standouts

In the process of tying the game at 1-1 in the first period, freshman Brandon Kruse tallied his first career goal on the power play. An early presence on the Falcons offense, Kruse is now on a two-game point streak after earning an assist against the Spartans Friday evening.
Just 4:10 into the second period, junior Shane Bednard earned his first collegiate goal to lift the Falcons to a 2-1 lead. Assisted by fellow juniors Chris Pohlkamp and Joe McKeown, Bednard's even strength goal came in his first game of the season.
In net, sophomore goaltender Ryan Bednard posted 32 saves, including a game-high of 15 in the third period, in his second game of the season.
Six different Falcons earned a point on the night, while Rauhauser and Wright are each on a three-game point streak after earning the assists on Kruse' first goal.
Midway through the game, Michigan State evened the score at 2-2 with a power play goal. It was the only goal the Spartans scored with the man advantage, as the Bowling Green defense went 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. While on the power play, the Falcons marked its third consecutive game notching a power play goal as they went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.
The pair of non-conference rivals were neck-and-neck through the first 40:00 of action, as they were tied at 1-1 after the first with shots on goal at 10 apiece. The teams were then in a similar state after the second tied 2-2, with shots on goal at 19 for each, before Michigan State pulled away in the third with 16 shots on goal to the Falcons five. It was with 00:40 remaining in regulation that Michigan State was able to score on the rebound to take the game 3-2.

Coach Bergeron's Take

"Brandon Kruse' goal was on the power play, and I liked the fact that our power play scored. We needed a strong power play to get us even, and we were able do that. As for Shane Bednard, he earned his first collegiate goal. He earned his spot in the lineup today, and took advantage of that opportunity and that was nice to see."
"It's nice to have Michigan State back on our schedule. It's a rivalry that goes back a long time, and we haven't played them for five years, so it was nice to have played them. Overall, we had a good game at home, and gave ourselves a chance tonight, but there is lots to learn from. These seasons are long and they're a marathon. We have lots to improve on, and from the start of the game to the end of the game, every play has to matter, but Michigan State found themselves on the right side of that play tonight."

Up Next

The Falcons will prepare to host Minnesota State as they open Western Collegiate Hockey Association action beginning Friday, Oct. 20. Saturday, Oct. 21 at the Slater Family Ice Arena will be Pink the Rink night for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Follow the Falcons

For more information on the hockey program, follow the Falcons on Twitter (@BGFalconHockey and @BGAthletics) and now on Instagram (bgfalconhockey) as well as on the web right here at BGSUFalcons.com.