This story was written by NMU Sports Information

SUNDAY GAME RECAP
 

The Northern Michigan University hockey team fell to No. 13 Bowling Green State University, 6-2, Sunday evening as special teams battle proved too much for the Wildcats in the defeat.

Colby Enns scored the first goal of the weekend as his shot from the point beat Dop for the 1-0 NMU lead at 9:21 of the first period.

The Wildcat defense looked strong in the opening minutes of regulation as they skated the first 10 minutes without letting up a shot on net. The first Falcon shot came at 10:04 of the first period with the Wildcats holding the advantage in shots, 7-1.

BGSU tied it up with 2:13 to go in the first period as a clearing attempt by the Wildcats found the stick of a Falcon and his shot took an awkward bounce over the right shoulder of Rico DiMatteo.

The Falcons struck again 1:10 later as a shot from the left circle beat DiMatteo stick-side for the 2-1 tally.

After one period of play, the Wildcats trailed the Falcons, 2-1, after two late goals for BGSU in the first period.

The Wildcat top-producing line found twine again as Joseph Nardi fired one home from just outside the crease for the 2-2 score. 

A net front scramble out front in the Wildcat zone saw the Falcons take the lead at 6:44 of the second period as the two teams skated four a side. 

With each team scoring in the middle frame, the Wildcats continued to trail by one at the second intermission while registering 21 total shots on goal.

The Falcons found a chance on their penalty kill with just six minutes gone in the third period as a shorthanded breakaway opportunity snuck through the five-hole of DiMatteo for the 4-2 score. 

The visiting team struck again at 7:51 of the final period to extend their lead to three goals, up 5-2, as John Hawthorne replaced DiMatteo between the pipes. 

A shot from behind the goalline hit the left pipe and bounced in as BGSU took the 6-2 lead with a power play goal at 10:20 of the third period for the final tally of the contest.

The Wildcats fell to 8-13-1 on the year and 6-5-1 in WCHA play as they sit two points behind the Falcons for third place with one series remaining.

SATURDAY GAME RECAP

MARQUETTE, Mich. -- In a defensive game for the ages, the Northern Michigan University hockey team skated to a 0-0 tie with their conference foe, Bowling Green State University.

Throughout the contest, the Wildcats held the advantage in shots, concluding the 65 minute game with a 38-36 edge. Rookie netminder Rico DiMatteo recorded his first career shutout between the pipes while posting a career-high 36 saves.

The two teams battled hard in the first as both squads looked to open the scoring but were denied every chance they got by the netminders on either end. NMU held a narrow shots on goal edge through the first 20 minutes, outshooting the Falcons 15-14 while DiMatteo stifled every shot he faced in the first.

The Wildcats continued to pepper the Bowling Green defense with shots through the second period of play as the Falcons blocked shot after shot, only allowing three NMU shots on net halfway through the period.

Despite being held to three shots, the Wildcat offense continued to control the puck in the BGSU zone as the Falcons saw just two looks at the Wildcat net nearly halfway through the period.

With NMU headed to the penalty kill at 12:43 of the middle frame, the Wildcats allowed just one shot on goal in the two minute span with the man-down as they continued to hold the shots on goal margin, 23-18, with both teams looking to light the lamp first.

After two periods of play and snake eyes still on the board, the Wildcats led shots on goal, 25-24, including two individuals with a team-best four shots in AJ Vanderbeck and Hank Sorensen.

Vanderbeck had one of the best looks of the night for NMU with just under eight minutes to play in the third as his shot, set up out front by Griffin Loughran, was denied by BGSU netminder Eric Dop. 

With 3:30 left in the third period, DiMatteo continued to keep the Falcons out of the net, stopping a point-blank shot in the chest for his 31st save of the night. As the teams headed to the faceoff circle following the save, NMU held the advantage in shots, 32-31.

As a minute ticked off the scoreboard in overtime, DiMatteo made a huge pad save on a Falcons' breakaway opportunity to keep the game alive.

The Wildcats posted three shots on net following the save by DiMatteo but could not find twine with two minutes gone in the extra period of hockey.

Following another stellar save at the Wildcat end of the ice, Andre Ghantous looked to have a prime opportunity in the slot, picking up a pass from Mike Van Unen on the rush, but was tripped up by a BGSU defender and drew the penalty. 

The Wildcats looked to have scored the game-winner at 3:19 of the overtime session but Loughran's tally was waved off due to a penalty called behind the net and the two teams continued to skate on, four a side. 

The score remained tied, 0-0, through the end of overtime for the official NCAA recognized final. A shootout ensued as both sides looked to secure the extra point and take hold of second place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings.

It took 10 skaters before anyone found twine as the goaltenders on both sides of the ice stood tall in net, proving nearly impossible to break. 

Brandon Schultz broke the drought in the sixth round of the shootout as he skated the puck in front center ice, drawing the BGSU netminder off before sending the puck back between his legs for the backhand shot into the wide open net. 

With the Wildcats shooting first, the Falcons had one more opportunity to extend the shootout but DiMatteo didn't take Collin's bait and made the pad save to secure the shootout win for his Wildcats. 

The Wildcats and Falcons conclude their regular season series tomorrow afternoon with puck drop set for 4 p.m. ET inside the Berry Events Center.

Students interested in attending game two of the series can claim their tickets here. Space is limited.