Bowling Green Tops Nebraska-Omaha

Bowling Green’s line of Branden Svendsen, David Solway and Dan Sexton did it all for the Falcons in a 3-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha Friday night at the BGSU Ice Arena.

They combined for all three of the Falcons’ goals and held the Mavericks off the board late in the third period as they were on the ice while Nebraska pressured late with an extra attacker.

“They were terrific all the way through, they battled extremely hard for pucks won a lot of those battles and finished it off with some grit, but also some finesse,” said Bowling Green head coach Scott Paluch.

The Falcons started the scoring early as Svendsen created a turnover in the Maverick zone during a four-on-four sequence. Moments later, Svendsen’s wrist shot from the slot was tipped past Nebraska Omaha goalie Jeremie Dupont by Solway for Bowling Green’s first lead of the game.

Just over 10 minutes later, Bowling Green extended their lead as Solway set up line mate Sexton on a 2-on-1 break. Sexton’s wrist shot from the right circle froze Dupont beating the goalie just under the bar on the stick side.

“We kind of fooled them I think, they stepped up and really didn’t know what to do. Svednsen made a nice chip to Solway who made a nice pass to me and instead of giving it back I saw a hole and just tried to fire it,” Sexton said.

Neither team was able to score in the second period when the Falcons had several great chances. First junior Kai Kantola’s breakaway chance sailed wide during a Falcon power play, 90 seconds later Bowling Green seemed to increase their lead to three as the puck beat Dupont and trickled behind the goalie, following a review the officials declared no goal.

“I always ask our guys in that situation and James Perkin was the closest, he said it was close, but he certainly wasn’t sure,” Paluch said.

Nebraska-Omaha almost got on the board with less than five seconds remaining in the period as Bowling Green goalie Jimmy Spratt was sprawled out and the Mavericks had a seemingly open net to shoot on, BG was saved by the buzzer after Spratt made a desperation save.

The Mavericks beat Spratt for the first time early in the third period when Eddie DelGrosso found a wide open Tomas Klempa in front of the Bowling Green net 37 seconds into the period. Spratt had no chance as Klempa one-timed the puck into the net uncovered.

“That goal on the first shot gives you a lot of momentum, I thought we fed off of that first goal very well,” said Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Kemp.

Sophomore Joey Martin tied the game at two for the Mavericks at the 10:54 mark of the third when he deflected Alex Hudson’s slap shot through the legs of Spratt.

The Svendsen-Solway-Sexton line delivered again for the Falcons at 16:44 mark as Sexton beat a sprawling Dupont with a wrist shot netting the game winner, getting assists from Svendsen and Solway.

“They worked so hard and I was just standing in front of the net trying to be third guy high for the back check,” said Sexton. “Those guys worked so hard especially Solway who was taking on the big guys and grinding in the corner, Svendsen chipped one over to me and I snuck it under his pad.”

After Sexton’s second goal Bowling Green kept the Mavericks out of the net including the last 90 seconds when Nebraska-Omaha pulled the goalie. The Mavericks almost tied the game at three with 2 seconds remaining when they had an open man planted in front of the net but a pass missed the target.

The Falcons out shot Nebraska 44-20 while Dupont kept Nebraska in the game until late in the third period.

“I thought Jeremie did a nice job he made the saves he had to make and he did a nice job of keeping the puck under control on most of his stops, he was very solid,” said Kemp.

Bowling Green goaltender Jimmy Spratt stopped 18 shots in the win.

Both teams struggled on the power play as Nebraska-Omaha went 0-4 and Bowling Green went 0-6.