KALAMAZOO — Western Michigan’s men’s hockey team scored two late third-period goals to squash any hopes of a Bowling Green rally as the Falcons fell 4-1 to the No. 18-ranked Broncos on Thursday night at Lawson Ice Arena.
Austen Swankler scored the only goal for Bowling Green, which fell to 2-3 overall. Western Michigan improved to 3-1.
He put the Falcons on the board with 17:53 left in the second period, trimming WMU’s lead to 2-1. Brayden Krieger and Chase Gresock assisted on the play.
Western Michigan’s Max Sasson and Ryan McAllister put the game away with goals at the 7:30 and 5:27 marks, respectively, in the third period.
"Unfortunately, we got off to a slow start,” BGSU coach Ty Eigner said. “Zack Rose played really well and kept us in it. They scored the first goal of the second period and our guys responded. We didn't see any quit. After the first period, it was a really good hockey game. Give Western Michigan credit, they played well. It's good for us to get the experience of playing in this type of environment."
Ethan Wolthers and Cole Gallant also scored for the Broncos in the first and second periods, with Gallant’s goal coming 1:01 before Swankler’s strike. Sasson also finished with two assists.
WMU goalkeeper Cameron Rowe saved 22 shots, including 15 in the second period. Bowling Green’s Zack Rose allowed all four goals and finished with 29 saves.
The Falcons were outshot 33-23, with substantial margins of 11-1 and 13-3 by the Broncos in the first and third periods.
Bowling Green finished 0-for-5 on power-play opportunities.
The two teams will play again at 7:07 p.m. Friday at Bowling Green’s Slater Family Ice Arena.
First Published October 14, 2022, 2:28 a.m.
