Michigan State University
Bowling Green
Spartan Hockey Falls In Overtime To Bowling Green, 3-2
11/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 22, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Michigan State dropped a tough 3-2 overtime decision to Bowling Green on Friday evening (Nov. 22) at BGSU Ice Arena. With the loss, the Spartans fall to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the CCHA, while Bowling Green improves to 3-8-1 overall and 1-7-1 in conference action.
"Our inability to score makes it tough and we are losing battles, such as turning over the puck," said MSU head coach Rick Comley. "You have to play well enough to win. I thought that we worked hard and we had several changes to win, but Bowling Green also had several good chances. Both goalies played very well."
After a scoreless first period, MSU got on the scoreboard first at the 5:21 mark of the second stanza, scoring on a 5-on-3 power play. Senior defenseman John-Michael Liles (Zionsville, Ind.) fired a shot from the blueline that beat BGSU goalie Jordan Sigalet. Brad Fast (Fort St. John, B.C.) and Nenad Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) drew the assists on Liles' goal as MSU won the face-off and Gajic found Fast at the blueline, who fed the puck over to Liles. Liles blasted the shot past the screened Falcons' goalie.
Bowling Green tied the game at one on a goal by Ryan Minnabarriet at the 18:31 mark of the second period. Minnabarriet snuck the puck past MSU goalie Matt Migliaccio (Wyandotte, Mich.).
Sophomore forward Jim Slater (Lapeer, Mich.) gave the Spartans a 2-1 advantage with his fifth goal of the campaign at the 16:05 mark of the third period. Slater took a feed from Mike Lalonde (Chetwynd, B.C.) who had received the puck from David Booth (Washington, Mich.). The three forwards had a tic-tac play to put the puck in the net.
MSU had several good scoring changes and an opportunity put the game away. Booth had a breakaway and put a shot right on goal, but Jordan Sigalet made a save to keep the score at 2-1.
"I made a move and got around the defenseman," said Booth. "I tried to cut back and go blocker side high, but the goalie made a nice stop. We need to bear down when it counts. We have to get our act together and hopefully things will come. We have to remain positive."
With 1:54 to go in the third period, senior wing Tyler Knight was able to just get the puck past Migliaccio to tie the score at two. BGSU's D'Arcy McConvey scored at the 3:10 mark of the extra session to give the Falcons, a 3-2 victory.
"We have give up several leads in the last few weeks," Liles said. "I'm sure it will be something that we will work on this week. It is all about bearing down and we didn't do that tonight. We have to be mentally tougher and play better when we have the lead. We have to give them credit for fighting back."
Migliaccio finished with 30 saves, while Sigalet had 29 stops.
The Spartans continue their road stand, heading to the College Hockey Showcase in Minneapolis and Madison next weekend. MSU faces Minnesota on Friday (Nov. 29) and meets Wisconsin on Saturday (Nov. 30). Face-off both nights is set for 8:05 p.m. EST.
Spartan Notebook
* Junior forward Steve Swistak made his first appearance of the season at BGSU. It also marked Swistak's first game since March 22, 2002 - the NCAA first round contest vs. Colorado College.
* Senior Brad Fast made his first-ever appearance at forward against Bowling Green. Fast had been a defenseman and had not played forward since early in his junior hockey career.
* MSU finished 1-for-6 on the power play, scoring the team's first power play tally since the first period of the Niagara game on Nov. 9.
* MSU has now lost three straight contests.
