BOWLING GREEN, OHIO – The Niagara University men’s hockey team (2-4-0) fell to Bowling Green State University (3-4-2) Friday at BGSU Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio.
A Falcons’ power-play goal late in the second period proved to be the difference in the contest. Bowling Green senior Mark Wires’ shot beat Niagara senior goaltender Rob Bonk (Fenton, Mich.), who had to contend with a group of Falcon attackers congesting the front of the Purple Eagles’ net. Wires’ goal gave Bowling Green a 3-2 lead and the eventual win.
"The special-teams game and our execution on the power play hurt us, we had too many shots blocked (on the power play)," Niagara head coach Dave Burkholder said. "It was a pretty even college hockey game. They won the special teams game and probably the goaltending game and that was the difference."
Failing to take the lead throughout the contest, the Purple Eagles fell behind with only 48 seconds remaining in the first period. Falcon forward Brett Pilkington shot the puck high into the Niagara net, beating Bonk for his fourth goal of the season.
Beginning the second period with a different attitude -- fighting through Falcon checks and continuing to attack the Bowling Green net early in the period -- the Purple Eagles evened the contest just 49 seconds into the second stanza. Niagara freshman Sean Bentivoglio (Thorold, Ont.) scored his first collegiate goal, slipping the puck past Falcon goaltender Jordan Sigalet and giving the Purple Eagles the tying goal. Bentivoglio was set up nicely by junior Barret Ehgoetz (Kincardine, Ont.), who’s pass found an open Bentivoglio in front of the Bowling Green net. Ehgoetz finished with two assists in the contest.
End-to-end action ensued, with Bowling Green regaining the lead at the 6:05 mark of the second period, on a short-handed goal by Falcon defenseman Jonathan Sigalet. The defenseman was free in front of the Purple Eagles’ net for a tap-in shot past Bonk.
Midway through the second period, Niagara freshman Jeremy Hall’s (Mays Landing, N.J.) slap shot in front of the Falcons’ net gave the Purple Eagles an equalizing goal, as well as showing the persistence and desire of the Niagara players. The Purple Eagles outshot the Falcons, 13-9, in the second period.
Wire’s goal, at the 16:56 mark of the second period, and an insurance goal by Bowling Green forward Rich Moloche at the 14:12 mark of the third period, provided the difference in the contest, earning the Falcons the victory of the Niagara.
Niagara was 0-for-8 on the power-play in the contest, illustrating the lack of special teams capitalization on man advantages brought forth by Burkholder. Bowling Green scored on 1-of-7 power-play opportunities.
Bonk made 17 saves for the Purple Eagles, with sophomore goaltender Jeff VanNynatten (Stratford,Ont.), who entered the game at the beginning of the third period, making nine saves. Sigalet made 25 saves for his third win of the season. In the game, the Falcons outshot the Purple Eagles, 30-27.
Niagara, looking to break a two-game losing streak, returns to action Saturday when it travels to Wayne State for a College Hockey America conference game at the Taylor Sportsplex in Taylor, Mich. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m.
