During its last road weekend in Central States Collegiate Hockey League play, the Ohio hockey team's hopes to jump back on the winning track were trampled by the Western Michigan Stallions.
The league-leading Bobcats (14-6-5 overall, 12-2-2 CSCHL) were upset Friday night by then-winless Western Michigan (5-18-0, 1-15-0 CSCHL) before rallying back for a victory the next night in Lawson Ice Arena to salvage the series split.
The Stallions scored early Friday and held Ohio scoreless for the first frame before Casey Fitzpatrick got the Bobcats on the board minutes into the second period. Dennis Belkin and Jordan Levy earned assists on the Fitzpatrick goal.
With nothing decided after two periods of play, Belkin answered a Western Michigan goal just past the five-minute mark of the third, this time with Fitzpatrick and Levy assisting.
Despite out-shooting the Stallions 41-15, the Bobcats could not stem off the Stallions' attack, allowing a goal with less than five minutes remaining that proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 Western Michigan upset.
We ran into a hot goaltender who played really
really well coach Dan Morris said. We were getting the initial shot but we weren't getting many rebound chances. He made some great saves.
Ohio would come with something to prove Saturday night, taking a 2-1 lead after the first period. Clay LaBrosse and Paul Warriner found the net for the Bobcats.
The Stallions scored first in the second period to knot the score at 2-2, but Warriner scored his second of the game off assists from Jim Fuhs and LaBrosse.
Ohio put away the Stallions in the third as Joe Branco assisted on an early goal by Fuhs before stretching the twine himself later in the period.
Net minder Ryan Baksh, who replaced Derek DeFelice in the second period, made eight saves to help the Bobcats achieve victory.
With the shots at 37-15, Ohio showed dominance in the 5-3 win. But the real story was the Bobcats' power play. After going 0-for-3 with the extra man in the first game, Ohio scored three power play goals on nine chances in game two.
We talked about it
Morris said. Friday night there weren't many power play opportunities
and they did a good job of reducing the ice out there five-on-five
so we wanted to get special teams working.
Ohio closes the season 4-5-4 on the road and will be home in Bird Arena where the Bobcats are 11-1-0 the next four weekends before the CSCHL Tournament at Kent State Feb. 18-20.
With the young players
they're getting used to playing on the road
Morris said. We played some tough teams on the road
but this weekend was a good step for us; the last time we were up at Western
we were swept.
Four weekends of hockey action in Athens start at 7:30 p.m. Friday when Ohio plays host to Eastern Michigan.
