Losing streak ends after 16 games
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — With the odds stacked against the NMU hockey team this weekend, the Green and Gold dug deep and found a way. While embarking on one of the lengthier road trips of the season and only being able to dress 17 skaters and two goalies due to injuries, the Wildcats (1-16-0, 1-8-0 CCHA) persevered, scoring goals in each period to defeat the Bowling Green Falcons (7-5-3, 5-3-3 CCHA) 3-2 thanks to scoring across the lineup and timely penalty-killing. The Wildcats dominated the first period, a frame that included a Wildcat power play followed by transfer Caiden Gault scoring his team-leading sixth goal of the season on an odd-man rush, thanks to a caused turnover from transfer Girts Silkalns. NMU controlled the majority of play in the Falcon zone, outshooting BGSU 14-8, with 7-4 on target, and multiple shots ringing off the crossbar or narrowly missing. The Falcons found a spark in the middle frame, outshooting NMU 22-11 with ten on target to nine, but it was the Wildcats who were able to take advantage of a chance, as Landon MacDonald picked up a bouncing puck and stormed in on a breakaway, tallying his second goal of the season. At the other end, minutes before, goaltender William Gramme made a crucial save on Tyler Hotson, who had a breakaway of his own, and the Wildcats carried a 2-0 lead into the third period. The Wildcats came out of the gates with pace in the final period, sparked by Girts Silkalns scoring one of the prettier goals you’ll see this season. Connor Levis got one back for the Falcons minutes later, then BGSU got its first power play of the night, and then were awarded with a five-on-three opportunity for 20 seconds, then another five-on-three for eight seconds. A huge opportunity for the Falcons, but key saves and blocks from the penalty killing units, and the ‘Cats held the Bowling Green power play off the board. The Falcons pulled the goalie with three minutes left and scored to make it 3-2 with a minute remaining. ‘Cat NipsGault (6-0–6) tallied his sixth goal of the season, and has six points in 13 career games vs BGSU (4-2–6).MacDonald (2-0–2) added his second goal this season, and has become a consistent feature as of late, playing in his seventh-straight contest.Silkalns (1-3–4) scored his first multi-point game of the season, as he caused a crucial turnover to spring Gault before scoring a pretty goal of his own.Ciccarello (1-1–2) picked up his first assist of the season.Stern (0-1–1) picked up his first-career collegiate point with an assist on the MacDonald goal.Slipec (1-6–7) picked up the primary assist on the Silkalns goal, and the forward now has points in back-to-back goals.Clark (0-2–2) tallied his second point as a Wildcat.William Gramme made 34 saves and posted a .944 SV% to pick up his first win as a WildcatNMU has snapped its 20-game winless streak, and get its first win since Saturday, February 8, 2025. (3-2 OTW at LSSU).This marked the third time this season the ‘Cats held its opponent scoreless through 40 minutes of play (10/17/25 vs Colorado College, 11/1/25 at Augustana). How It Happened Landon MacDonald took advantage of a Falcon turnover in the neutral zone and walked in on a two-on-one early in the game, and fired a shot that caught a piece of the crossbar over the glove hand. The Wildcats opened the scoring with six and a half minutes to go in the first, as Silkalns forced a turnover by pressuring the defenseman in the Wildcat zone and springing Gault and Hutchinson on a two-on-one. The Ferris State transfer walked into the left circle and fired a wicked wrist shot past the ear of Palmer on the stick side. The teams skated four on four halfway through the second period, and when the skaters returned to the ice, Tyler Hotson received a stretch pass and walked in on a breakaway against Gramme, who came up big with a crucial save. The Wildcats struck again, as the forward took advantage of a bouncing puck on a long flip from Ciccarello that skipped over a defender’s stick at the Falcon blueline. MacDonald walked in between the hashmarks and took a decisive shot over the pad and under the blocker on the far side, extending the Wildcat lead to two. Silkalns opened the third period by scoring a really pretty goal. The transfer gained the blue line, toe-dragged a defender, and out-waited the goaltender and sliding defenders before guiding a backhand into a yawning cage. The Falcons got one back minutes later, as Levis was able to jam home a rebound out of mid-air from on top of the crease. After the ‘Cats successfully killed three consecutive penalties, including two abbreviated five-on-three chances, the Falcons pulled the goalie with three minutes left. A shot was fired toward the net and somehow found its way to trickle across the line with just over a minute left to play. Up Next Game two from the Slater Family Ice Arena is set for Saturday, December 6, at 6:07 p.m. ET. |
