Michigan State University
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Western Michigan
Spartan Hockey Drops Road Game At Western Michigan, 5-3
11/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 20, 2005
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan scored three times on the power play en route to a 5-3 win over Michigan State Saturday, Nov. 19 at Lawson Ice Arena. The Spartans outshot Western Michigan, 39-24, but once again were stymied by Bronco goaltender Daniel Bellissimo, the game's No. 3 star. With the loss, Michigan State drops to 5-5-3 overall and 2-4-3 in CCHA play, while the Broncos improve to 3-6-1 and 2-4-2.
The Spartans got an early scoring opportunity when Western Michigan's Ryan Mahrle was whistled for hitting-from-behind and a game disqualification just 25 seconds into the contest. The Broncos limited MSU to just one shot on goal during the man-advantage, a Chris Lawrence wrister from the top of the slot.
Michigan State got another chance 52 seconds after the first penalty expired when WMU forward Sean Weaver also was called for hitting-from-behind with a game misconduct at 6:17 of the first period. This time, the Green and White capitalized with a Corey Potter (Mason, Mich.) goal at 9:46. Potter took a feed from Chris Lawrence (Havertown, Pa.), stepped into the slot and fired a shot high over the blocker of Bellissimo. Zak McClellan (Frankenmuth, Mich.) also collected an assist on the play.
The Broncos drew even at 1-1 when Mike Lesperance broke out of the Western Michigan defensive zone and skated the length of the ice, before beating Spartan goaltender Dominic Vicari (Clinton Twp., Mich.) through the five hole at 14:16.
WMU took a 2-1 lead with a power-play goal just 1:53 later when forward Mike Erickson buried the rebound off Patrick Galivan's shot from the left edge of the crease. Bronco forward Jeff Pierce picked up his third point of the weekend with an assist on the play.
After a Spartan turnover behind their own net, Lesperance scored his second goal of the period with a wrist shot from the slot at 18:45 to put the host Broncos up 3-1 at the end of one period. Eight shots in the last five minutes of the stanza gave Western Michigan a nine-to-seven advantage in shots on goal after 20:00 of play.
The Broncos struck for their second power-play goal in as many chances and extended their lead to 4-1 when Brent Walton circled out from behind the net and snuck a shot under the arm of Spartan goaltender Dominic Vicari (Clinton Township, Mich.), who was pulled from the game 3:50 into the second period. Vicari finished the night with just seven saves on 11 shots. Freshman Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.), who made 21 stops in Friday night's 3-3 tie against Western Michigan, took over for the Green and White.
The Spartans cut the deficit to 4-2 when Colton Fretter (Harrow, Ont.) scored his second goal in as many nights, an unassisted tally at 8:33. Fretter stole the puck at the Michigan State blueline and broke in alone on Bellissimo, beating the sophomore glove side.
MSU was whistled for a pair of penalties late in the second period, placing itself on a 5-on-3 disadvantage. The Spartans killed the first penalty, a contact-to-the-head roughing call on Potter, but Bronco defender Chris Frank scored his first collegiate goal during the 5-on-4 to give WMU a 5-2 lead.
Minutes later, MSU was awarded a two-man advantage of its own but squandered the opportunity when Tyler Howells (Eden Prairie, Minn.) pulled down Bronco Jeff Lovecchio on a short-handed breakaway attempt.
Michigan State got one goal back early in the third as freshman forward Tim Crowder (Victoria, B.C.) picked up his fifth goal of the year at 4:32. David Booth (Washington, Mich.) and Chris Mueller (West Seneca, N.Y.) assisted on the play. Potter nearly netted his second of the night with a slap shot from the top of the right circle that was labeled for the upper-left corner of the goal, but Bellissimo's flailing stick kept the Spartans in a two-goal hole.
The two teams traded penalties the rest of the way and neither team could generate many quality scoring chances. The Spartans are now winless in their last six games after starting the season 5-1-1.
MSU returns to the ice next weekend for the College Hockey Showcase, featuring Wisconsin (Friday, Nov. 25) and Minnesota (Saturday, Nov. 26) at Munn Ice Arena.
Spartan Notebook:
* Senior defenseman Corey Potter scored his second goal of the season, during Michigan State's second five-minute major advantage of the first period, snapping a six-game pointless streak. Potter now boasts 2-5-7 this season and is now just one-point shy of matching his single-season high of eight points.
* The Spartans have now surrendered three or more goals in five straight contests. In that span MSU opponents have combined to score 19 goals, including a 7-4 loss at home to Nebraska-Omaha.
* Michigan State allowed an opponent to score at least two power-play goals in a game for the sixth time this season. The Spartans have allowed opponents to score with a man-advantage in nine of their last 11 games. Saturday was the first time an opponent has scored three or more power-play goals in a single game for the 2005-06 season.
* Freshman forward Tim Crowder's third period power-play goal was his fifth of the season. Crowder leads all Spartan rookies in goals (5) and points (6) this season.
* Sophomore forward Chris Mueller's assist on Tim Crowder's third period goal extended his point streak to a career-high five games.
* Senior forward David Booth's assist on Crowder's power-play goal was his first point since returning to the lineup after a nine-game hiatus due to a rib injury.
