Huskies and Falcons Play to 4-4 Overtime Draw
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bowling Green (8-8-4, 6-6-2) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
|
Michigan Tech (6-9-5, 4-4-4) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. — Michigan Tech and Bowling Green State skated to a 4-all tie at the MacInnes Student Ice Arena tonight after both teams scored three goals in the third period. The Huskies held a 4-2 lead with less than three minutes remaining before the Falcons scored twice with the extra attacker to tie the game.
Both teams had chances in overtime including a shot in tight from Tanner Kero with three seconds left.
"It's a tough tie," said head coach Mel Pearson. "Their team played much better tonight and put a lot of pressure on us, but it's tough to give away the point with a two-goal lead late in the game."
Mike Neville, Blake Hietala and Kero all scored third-period goals to give the Huskies a 4-2 advantage. The three tallies all came in a five-minute window.
Neville's second of the season came on a breakaway from a nice feed by Cliff Watson up the center of the ice. Neville finished with a blocker-side shot and drew a penalty on the play as well.
Hietala converted the ensuing power play with a redirect of a Kero shot.
The 3-1 lead lasted just two minutes before the Falcons' Dajon Mingo cleaned up a rebound of his own shot while the teams were skating four-on-four.
Kero answered during the same coincidental penalty time with a similar-looking goal to his highlight play from the week before. The junior skated in from neutral ice and around a defenseman before finishing five hole on BGSU goalie Tommy Burke.
The 4-2 advantage lasted until the 17:32 mark. Burke was pulled to gain the extra attacker. A shot from the right circle was kicked out by Pheonix Copley directly to Ben Murphy, who found an open net on the weak side.
The Falcons (8-8-4, 6-6-2 WCHA) kept Burke on the bench and scored again with 1:02 remaining on one-timer from the slot.
BGSU held a 7-2 advantage in shots on goal in the overtime, but the game ended in a deadlock—the Huskies' third tie in the last four games.
Tech matched its season high with 47 shots on goal. Forty-three were saved by Burke for a two-game total of 82. Bowling Green sent 39 shots at Copley, and the sophomore turned 35 aside.
The Huskies converted two-of-four on the man advantage for their first multiple power-play-goal game of the season.
"It was good to get the four goals tonight," said Pearson. "I think this will help our confidence moving forward."
BGSU scored the game's opening goal for the second straight game with a tally at 15:11 of the first.
Tech answered with a power-play goal from Blake Pietila. The junior captain snapped his 12-game scoring drought with a blast from the slot after a Shane Hanna shot rebounded out to him.
Four Huskies finished with multiple-point nights: Kero (1g, 1a), Neville (1g, 1a), Hanna (2a) and Riley Sweeney (2a).
Michigan Tech is now 4-4-4 in WCHA play and 6-9-5 overall. The Huskies will have their first weekend off this season Dec. 20-21 before hosting the 49th annual Great Lakes Invitational outdoors at Comerica Park Dec. 27-28.
