MANKATO, Minn. — Bowling Green State University hockey lost 4-2 to No. 8 Minnesota State on Saturday in Mankato.
The loss extends this season’s losing streak to five games for the Falcons.
BGSU (2-6-0, 1-3-0 CCHA) came into Saturday’s matchup hungry for a win after a tight overtime loss the night before to the Mavericks (5-3-0, 2-0-0 CCHA).
The first period started off on a familiar foot, with the Falcons spending most of the start in their defensive end.
The Mavericks got on the board quickly, as junior David Silye fired one past Falcon goalie Christian Stoever to make it 1-0 MSU.
Following the goal, Bowling Green was able to gain some offense and shoot pucks toward Mavs netminder Keenan Rancier.
At the 10:27 mark, BGSU newcomer Chase Gresock tipped one into Rancier’s net and the score was tied at 1-1.
The rest of the period came with masses of shots from the Mavs, but Stoever was able to defend until the buzzer sounded.
The second began with Falcons captain Alex Barber taking a penalty for slashing.
Then, freshman Quinn Emerson stole the puck from Mankato’s PP unit and scored shorthanded less than three minutes into the period to give BGSU the 2-1 lead.
After the goal and a killed-off penalty, the Mavericks came back hard with shots for the first half of the second.
Things would get more aggressive toward the last 10 minutes of the period, leading to Falcon defenseman Anton Malmstrom sitting for crosschecking.
Bowling Green prevented any pucks in during the power play, but let a puck slip through in the dying minutes of the second. MSU Brendan Furry would send in a rebound to make it 2-2.
More hurdles came toward the close, as Falcon defenseman Dalton Norris got called for holding.
The third did not start in Bowling Green’s favor, as Mavs center Sam Morton scored just seven seconds into the period.
With a 3-2 Minnesota State lead, the Falcons needed to spend more time in their offensive zone against a suffocating MSU defense.
At the halfway point, Mankato freshman Adam Eisele would take advantage of a rebound to put the team up 4-2.
The Falcons would get plenty of power play opportunities in the last ten minutes of the game, but the Mavericks’ special teams were on their toes to combat the man advantage.
Less than a minute left in the period, sophomore Ryan O’Hara would take a devastating goaltender interference penalty for the Falcons.
In the end, the Mavericks’ 33-12 shot advantage would prove to be lethal, sealing the deal with a 4-2 loss for Bowling Green.
Despite the loss, head coach Ty Eigner saw Stoever’s performance as promising for the team.
“Christian Stoever gave us a chance tonight,” Eigner said. “He played very well.”
The Falcon will return to the Slate for their first CCHA series at home this season. The Michigan Tech Huskies come to Bowling Green on Friday and Saturday.
