BOWLING GREEN — Bemidji State forced overtime with a last-minute equalizer, but Bowling Green State University hockey came out on top as Ryan O’Hara’s game-ending goal gave the Falcons a 4-3 victory Friday at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

BGSU (11-7-2, 7-4-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) won for the sixth game in a row and for the fifth straight time in CCHA play.

Ben Doran gave the Falcons the initial lead with the lone goal of the first period, scoring 9:38 into the opening period with an assist from Jackson Niedermayer. Kirklan Irey got the Beavers (9-10-3, 5-6-2) on the board less than a minute into the second, and the game remained tied at 1 entering the third period.

A power-play goal by Kasper Magnussen gave Bemidji a 2-1 lead 1:35 into the third, but Owen Ozar responded for the Falcons just 33 seconds later with an unassisted equalizer.

With a little less than eight minutes to play in regulation, Gustav Stjernberg gave BGSU the lead with an assist from Jaden Grant. The Beavers pulled their goaltender as time grew short, and Adam Flammang rescued the visitors with his tying goal with 44 seconds left.

At the 2:37 mark of the extra period, Grant was on assist duty again as O’Hara beat goalie Mattias Sholl for the win.

Christian Stoever made 24 saves on 27 shots for the Falcons. Sholl had 16 saves on 20 shots faced for Bemidji State.

BGSU will seek its fourth two-game sweep of a conference opponent this season when the teams meet again at 7:07 p.m. Saturday at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

First Published January 11, 2025, 4:06 a.m.