The Bowling Green hockey team fell to the Alabama Huntsville Chargers 4-2 on Friday night, the first game
of the team’s final regular season series.
The Falcons now hold a record of 15-8-4-3 (52 points) against WCHA opponents this season, dropping to
third in the conference standings. Alabama Huntsville now has an 8-17-2-2 record against WCHA opponents,
maintaining their eighth-place spot in the conference standings and clinching a playoff berth.
“There were times throughout the game where (our effort) wasn’t good enough,” Falcons head coach Chris
Bergeron said. “Our opponent took advantage.”
The first period saw both teams go scoreless, as the teams also drew even in total shots on net
throughout the period with seven apiece. Nether team committed a penalty, and there were no power play
opportunities throughout the first 20 minutes.
The second period would see the Falcons go up in front with a goal at the 5:06 mark, courtesy of
sophomore forward Sam Craggs, giving the team a 1-0 lead, which they would hold on to through the
remainder of the period.
The Falcons outpaced Alabama Huntsville in terms of shots in the second, as they outshot them 11-3, with
Alabama Huntsville unable to register a shot on net until near the midway point of the period. Both
teams would also be held off on their power play chances in the second, with Alabama Huntsville going 0
for 1 and the Falcons going 0 for 2.
Alabama Huntsville tied up the game at the 3:49 mark in the third period, with senior forward Madison
Dunn finding the back of the net. Just over two minutes later, Alabama Huntsville grabbed their first
lead of the game as senior forward Jesper Ohrvall scored at the 5:50 mark, making it 2-1. The scoring
continued just under two minutes later, with Alabama Huntsville senior forward Hans Gurowsky
capitalizing on a power play chance to make it a 3-1 game at the 7:43 mark.
“I thought (Alabama Huntsville) played well and they played hard,” Bergeron said. “Our guys weren’t
engaged in the competition enough of the time, so we left it to chance which we talked about all week
long and before the game not to leave it to chance, but unfortunately we did.”
The Falcons were able to cut the lead in half, as junior defenseman Jacob Dalton scored with eight
minutes remaining on a delayed penalty.
Despite a number of strong chances late for the Falcons, Alabama Huntsville was able to hang on as
sophomore forward Connor Merkley hit the empty net with four seconds remaining in the game, as the
Falcons had pulled the goaltender for the extra attacker, giving Alabama Huntsville the 4-2 win.
“We just couldn’t stop the momentum that they had,” Bergeron said. “Once we did, we tried to push back,
but it was too little, too late.”
Alabama Huntsville sophomore goaltender Mark Sinclair earned the win, making 28 saves on 30 Falcon shots,
while Falcons junior goaltender Ryan Bednard took the loss with 14 saves on 17 shots.
The Falcons were held off the board on their three power play chances, while Alabama Huntsville grabbed
one power play goal on their two chances throughout the game.
BG plays again tonight, against Alabama Huntsville, to close out the regular season schedule. The Falcons
will then begin play in the first round of the conference playoffs on home ice, March 8-9, and March 10
if necessary.