Bowling Green’s offense has managed to find its groove this season when facing Lake Superior State.
After a 6-3 win on Saturday night to even their CCHA playoff series at one game apiece, the Falcons beat the Lakers 7-0 on Sunday night to win their first-round series in three games.
The final two games of the weekend marked two of the three highest offensive outputs for the Falcons this season. Bowling Green also scored seven goals against the Lakers earlier in the season.
“It was a great effort and I’m really proud of our group,” said Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron. “We challenged them hard after the game on Friday and not trying to take anything away from Lake Superior, but we felt like we didn’t really answer the bell. Our guys played tonight like we’ve been in this game before and we have. Our older guys that were the guys we challenged really stood out.”
Dan DeSalvo scored a pair of goals and added an assist for Bowling Green in the win, while Ryan Carpenter, Ralfs Freibergs and Adam Berkle added a goal and an assist each. Bryce Williamson and Ben Murphy added two assists each for the Falcons and Marc Rodriguez also scored.
“I can’t even really explain it,” said Lakers’ coach Jim Roque. “It just seemed like everything was going well for them and we could do nothing right. I’m stunned. It wasn’t meant to be, I guess. I have no idea how to even say that to those guys. They were prepared and they seemed ready to go in the game.”
Bowling Green goaltender Andrew Hammond stopped 23 shots in the win.
“Andrew was on top of his game,” said Bergeron. “There were some weird pucks and bounces and he was tracking them great. He just looked on top of his game.”
Lakers’ goalie Kevin Kapalka made 26 saves.
For the Lakers, Roque called the third goal an important one for the Falcons.
“The third goal was really deflating, but it seemed like everything they shot went in the net,” said Roque. “[Bowling Green] had a lot of confidence and we just couldn’t find a way to match it.”
Bowling Green’s second-round opponent had yet to be determined, but it has been narrowed down to Miami or Notre Dame. Who they face will depend on the outcome of tonight’s Game 3 between Michigan State and Alaska.
