MARQUETTE -- (Courtesy of NMU Athletics) The No. 17-ranked Northern Michigan hockey team was bounced from the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament for the second year in a row at the hands of Bowling Green. The Falcons won the final two games of the First Round series to advance to the Quarterfinals.
After a scoreless first period, NMU jumped on the scoreboard first with a one-timer from freshman defenseman Mitch Jones 8:10 into the second.
Sophomore forward Stephan Vigier fed Jones in the middle of the circles for a blast past BGSU goaltender Andrew Hammond. Senior forward Justin Florek also assisted on Jones’ fifth of the season.
It was Northern’s only goal of the game as BGSU answered with four goals, like the night before. Dan DeSalvo scored two goals and added an assist while teammates Adame Berkle and Ryan Viselli also scored.
DeSalvo picked up a turnover in NMU’s end and found the back of the net at 8:10 to tie the game at one. His second goal was a rebound after a breakaway by Berkle at 12:39. DeSalvo finished with five goals in the series after only tallying four in the regular season.
Berkle scored at 14:30 of the second for a 3-1 lead at the intermission.
Viselli added the fourth goal at 12:12 of the third.
NMU is 17-14-6 overall and still has a very slim chance of being selected to the NCAA Tournament. BGSU is 12-22-5 with the win and advances to face top-seeded Ferris State next weekend.
Sophomore goaltender Jared Coreau finished with 19 saves and has a record of 12-7-2 overall this season. Hammond (12-21-5) had 34 saves for the Falcons.
Northern was 0-for-4 on the power-play and BGSU was 0-for-5.
Seniors Andrew Cherniwchan, Reid Ellingson, Justin Florek, Tyler Gron and Devan Hartigan played their final games at the Berry Events Center.
Game Notes: Attendance was 1,098…The Falcons won 2-1 in double overtime last season to advance.
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