Michigan State University
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Western Michigan
Spartans Edged by Broncos, 3-2
10/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 15, 2006
Kalamazoo, Mich. - Michigan State saw its record fall to an even 1-1 on the season with a 3-2 loss at Western Michigan on Sunday afternoon. Jim McKenzie and Nick Sucharski had goals in the loss, while sophomore netminder Jeff Lerg made 20 saves.
"I thought Western made some great adjustments and played very well in their home opener," noted head coach Rick Comley. "I thought their goaltender was outstanding and they did a great job with staying consistent throughout the game. We're going to have to keep developing as a team - we're going to have to be more consistent in terms of generating offense. This was a little reality check for us, and we will work to keep getting better throughout the year."
The game was a physical battle throughout, though significantly less penalty-riddled than the meeting of the teams on Friday at Munn. Western struck first on the afternoon, sneaking one into the top-right corner at the seven minute mark. As Tyler Howells slid to break up the pass, Brian Bicek held the pass until Howells had committed and moved it instead to Mark Letestu in the slot, who hit the upper right corner of the crossbar before the puck came down over the line.
The Spartans evened the score before the first intermission, connecting on their third power-play chance of the afternoon. Mike Ratchuk kept the puck in the zone in the high slot, and made a swift pass to Jim McKenzie, who was on the goal line to the left of goaltender Daniel Bellissimo. McKenzie received the puck, took a stride in front of the net, and roofed the puck over the left shoulder of Bellissimo for his first goal of the season.
The home team posted a go-ahead goal at 13:54 of the middle frame. During a scrum deep in the Spartan defensive zone, Matt Clackson was able to poke the puck to blueliner Jeff LoVecchio, who put it in the back of the net for his first goal of the season.
The Broncos had a bid for a two-goal cushion minutes later when Bicek came in on a breakaway after poking the puck free in the neutral zone. Bicek fumbled the puck an bit and tried to go backhand on the recovery, but Lerg was up to the task and made the save with his right leg pad.
MSU tied the game on a hard-fought effort by Nick Sucharski at 2:28 of the final frame. Brandon Gentile corralled the puck at the red line and threw it into the center for Sucharski, who carried the puck and a defender on his hip. He threw the puck netward as he was falling but it was just enough to beat Bellissimo low, stick-side for the sophomore's first goal of the season. The lead was short-lived, as just over three minutes later Mike Lersperance poked a rebound over the glove-hand of Lerg to restore the one-goal lead.
Michigan State pressed to get the equalizer late in the game, but the Broncos were up to the challenge and were disruptive in their defensive zone, keeping the Spartans from generating any quality chances. Lerg was pulled for the final minute of the game, but the Spartans could not get the tying goal.
MSU has only an exhibition on tap for the coming week, welcoming the US National Team Development Program to Munn Arena for a 7 p.m. game on Thursday. The game will air on Comcast East Lansing and also be available via webstream at www.msuspartans.com
NOTES: Michigan State was held off the board in its first 11 power play opportunities of the season before McKenzie's strike in the first period. They finished 1-for-6 in the game, and are now 1-for-15 on the year ... The penalty kill, however, was sharp, denying the Broncos an extra-man tally in six chances. The PK is now 10-of-11 over two games ... Tim Crowder's seven-game point-scoring streak dating back to last year as come to an end, as has Tim Kennedy's four-game ride ... Freshmen Jay Sprague and Mike Ratchuk are the only Spartans to record points in each of the first two MSU games ... Brandon Gentile's assist on Sucharski's goal was his first collegiate point. He was limited to just 17 games in his freshman season due to injury.
