KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Dane Walters and Chase Balisy each had one goal and one assist
Friday to lead Western Michigan to a 3-1 victory over Bowling Green in a Central
Collegiate Hockey Association game.
The Broncos built a 2-0 lead during the first 22 minutes and held off BG to improve
to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the CCHA.
The Falcons were out-shot by a 32-12 margin. BG is 2-6-2, 1-3-1-1. BOX
SCORE
The
Broncos took a 2-0 lead on goals from Walters at 14:02 of the first period and
Balisy short-handed just 76 seconds into the second period. Western held a 13-1
edge in shots during the first period.
“We knew they were going to come at us hard at the start and they jumped us hard,” BG
coach Chris Bergeron said. “We did fine, keeping a portion of those shots to the
outside, obviously, not all of them.
“We just didn’t push back. It took us way too long to get going and the game kind of
got away from us.”
Bryce Williamson brought BG within 2-1 at 3:57 of the second period, but Western
regained its two-goal lead on Kenney Morrison’s power-play goal with 7:20 left
in the game.
The Falcons killed off a penalty eight minutes into third period to keep the game at
2-1 and then had a chance to tie the game on the power play shortly after that.

But the BG power play lasted only 24 seconds after Adam Berkle’s charging penalty.

“We did show some resiliency and some fight that I hadn’t seen yet this year,”
Bergeron said. “There was a little bit of life on our bench, even though the
shots were one-sided and based on play in our zone versus their zone. I’m not
talking about a moral victory, but our guys hung in there and fought even though
it wasn’t our night.”
The power play continued to hurt the Falcons, who were 0-of-5 with the extra man and
allowed the short-handed goal.
BG hasn’t scored on its last 30 chances with the man advantage and is 3-of-46 this
season. The Falcons also have allowed four short-handed goals.
“The power play is costing us games,” Bergeron said. “Hopefully, the players who are
on the power play feel some responsibility and some fire, and want to do better
and contribute in a positive play, not a negative way. It’s something that has
to improve.”
BG played without junior co-captain Cam Wojtala because of a lower body injury
suffered Wednesday in practice, Bergeron said.
Bergeron didn’t know if Wojtala, one of the team’s best forwards, would play tonight
when the series concludes in the Ice Arena Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
BG forward Brent Tate also missed the game because of an injured back and is doubtful
for Saturday’s game.
Andrew Hammond made 29 saves for BG.
The Broncos were without star defenseman Dan DeKeyser because of a leg surgery. He’s
one of college hockey’s best defensemen. He missed his second straight game and
is listed as day-to-day.