BGSU hockey defeated WCHA foe Bemidji State 3-2 on Thursday night to move to 3-0 in the Western
Collegiate Hockey Association and 12-1-0 overall on the season.
It was a high scoring game for the first two periods as the teams traded goals making it 3-2 heading into
the third period.
But that isn’t to say that it wasn’t an action-packed third period. The Falcons were on their heels for
much of the quarter and were saved by senior goalkeeper Eric Dop on the penalty kill on multiple
occasions to close out the game.
“Eric was really good again when we needed him to be. There wasn’t a lot of opportunities for either team
on the power play tonight,” BGSU head coach Ty Eigner said. “The biggest kill of the night is the next
kill and for us Eric was huge in that kill there at the end.”
In seven games played this season Dop’s record in goal is still a perfect at 7-0. His 93% save percentage
is No. 5 in the WCHA.
Eigner knew coming into this game that it wouldn’t be easy. Bemidji State finished No. 11 in the USCHO
poll when last season was canceled and have always been a tough team to play in the WCHA. But his team
found a way to continue their incredible run this season.
“Bemidji plays really hard and we knew that they would be a team that wouldn’t quit. They’ve got a lot of
good older players that play really hard. They are disciplined and it was a really tough, physical, hard
WCHA game so the third it was a grind and we felt like our guys handled it really well,” Eigner said.
Bemidji State were the ones that started off the scoring on the night. Junior forward Owen Silinger
netted the goal in the first period.
Just a minute later, the Falcons would go on a run of three-straight goals of their own starting with one
from junior forward Taylor Schneider.
The next goal wouldn’t come until the second period from senior forward Connor Ford. That goal would be
followed by Max Johnson, who was in his first game back since he went out with an injury on Dec. 19
against Quinnipiac.
The Falcons conceded one more goal, from Bemidji State’s senior forward Brendan Harris, before the second
period was over.
Dop and the defense were able to hold on and the win streak continues.
“They are a fun group to be around, they really are, and I mean they are 12-1 if you can’t have fun doing
this then you need to go and do something else. Anytime you are in an environment like that where
everybody is pushing each other and everyone genuinely wants success for the other guy it is a lot of
fun, everyone is having a blast,” Eigner said.
The Falcons will go for the sweep tonight against Bemidji State at Slater Family Ice Arena. The puck is
set to drop at 7:07 p.m.
