Falcons sweep Cats, ending NMU’s season
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Northern Michigan University freshman Zach Diamantoni scored his first goal of his career to break a scoreless tie in the second period, but No. 13 Bowling Green answered with four goals over the second and third to take a 4-1 win and the WCHA opening round playoff series from the NMU hockey team Saturday.
Diamantoni took a feed from junior Darren Nowick and freshman Robbie Payne at the 8:55 mark of the second period to score the first goal of the night for the Wildcats.
The Falcons answered just over a minute later (9:59) when Tyler Spezia scored on assists from Dan DeSalvo and Sean Walker. BG scored another goal before the end of the period when Brandon Hawkins scored on an assist from Mark Cooper to take a 2-1 lead.
Hawkins scored again to tack on an insurance goal at the 13:24 mark of the third on assists from Walker and Cooper.
The Falcons added another goal with 1:08 left in the game when Brent Tate scored on the power play on assists from Adam Berkle and Nolan Valleau.
NMU junior goalie Michael Doan made 38 saves in net for the Wildcats while NMU was outshot 42-20 by the falcons.
NMU was 0-2 on the power play and 4-5 on the penalty kill.
Wildcat sophomore Dominik Shine led the Wildcats with four shots in the outing.
The Wildcats end their season with a 14-18-6 record while Bowling Green will advance to the Final Five with a 23-10-5 overall mark.
(Information Courtesy of NMU Athletics)