Jan. 14, 2005

Stats

Niagara Univ., N.Y. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (11-8-2 overall, 4-3-2 CHA) recorded its first overtime victory since Dec. 27, 2003, as sophomore left wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) scored at the 3:25 mark of the extra session to give the visiting Warriors a 4-3 triumph at Niagara University (7-13-0, 2-5-0 CHA) Friday night.

Bloomingburg's goal came only 14 seconds after Niagara had called a timeout. The Purple Eagles had a full two minutes of power-play time in the extra period as WSU's Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) was assessed a high sticking penalty just nine seconds into overtime.

WSU had entered the contest with a 4-6-1 mark when allowing the first goal, but after trailing 2-0, coach Bill Wilkinson's squad responded with the next two goals.

Niagara's Matt Caruana gave the hosts a 1-0 lead 4:30 into the match with a five-on-three power-play goal as two Warrior defensemen, Greg Poupard (Jackson, Mich./Waterloo Black Hawks) and Dan Iliakis (Scarborough, Ont./Georgetown Raiders) were in the penalty box.

NU increased its lead as Barret Ehgoetz, who entered the contest eighth nationally in points per game, scored a four-on-three man-advantage marker at the 9:03 mark of the first period.

Wayne State began its first comeback of the game late in the opening period as freshman right wing Tylor Michel (Sudbury, Ont./Owen Sound Greys) tallied a five-on-three power-play goal with only 1:42 remaining in the stanza. Michel's sixth of the season was assisted by Iliakis and sophomore left wing Jason Baclig (Leamington, Ont./Leamington Flyers).

Poupard's first goal since Feb. 29, 2004 (at Alabama-Huntsville) came during a Wayne State power play 3:34 into the second period and tied the game at two. His fifth career goal (and third career power-play goal) was assisted by freshman center Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians) and junior defenseman Steve Kovalchik (Riverview, Mich./Omaha Lancers).

Niagara regained the lead on an even-strength goal by Sean Bentivoglio at the 9:05 mark of the second period. It was the first even-strength marker of the contest for either team.

The Warriors rallied again in the third period as Higgins tied the game at three with his sixth of the season at the 8:35 mark. Sophomore wing Mark Cannon (River Rouge, Mich./Compuware) and senior wing John Grubb (Burlington, N.D./Waterloo Black Hawks) garnered assists on WSU's first even-strength goal of the game.

Redshirt freshman center Mike Forgie (Scarborough, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) and sophomore right wing Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado) both earned their second-game winning assists of the season on Bloomingburg's overtime goal.

WSU junior goaltender Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows) improved his season record to 7-5-0 by stopping 26 Purple Eagle shots including five in overtime. NU sophomore goalie Allan Barton turned aside 23 Warrior shots. Each team scored two power-play goals in the game, WSU in seven chances and Niagara in eight opportunities.

Wayne State concludes its four-game road trip to begin 2005 with a 7:05 p.m. face-off on Saturday at NU's Dwyer Arena. The Warriors lone home games in January will be on the 22nd (3:05 p.m.) and 23rd (2:05) at Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth against CHA newcomer Robert Morris.

Game Notes: WSU entered the contest with an all-time overtime mark of 2-1-1 against Niagara, but 0-1-0 at NU's Dwyer Arena.

The overtime triumph was the 13th extra session win in the program's six-year history.

Jason Bloomingburg is the ninth player in school history with an overtime goal. Jason Durbin holds the school record with three OT goals, while both Dustin Kingston and Maxim Starchenko scored two extra session markers.

Bloomingburg's overtime goal was his 13th goal of the season moving him into a tie for seventh place on WSU's single-season chart. The school record is 18 goals set by Kingston during the 2000-01 season.

All three of WSU's overtime games this year have been on the road: 1-1 tie at Robert Morris on Nov. 13, a 3-3 tie at Alabama-Huntsville on Jan. 8, and tonight's 4-3 win at Niagara.

Wayne State's all-time overtime record is now 13-5-16.

The Warriors are now 4-0-5 in their last nine overtime contests with their last OT setback coming on Feb. 21, 2003, by a 3-2 score at Niagara.

Of WSU's 12 points (four goals and eight assists), no skater had more than one point.

After opening the first five series of the season with a win, WSU had lost the series opener in the next five series until Friday's victory at Niagara.

The overtime goal for Bloomingburg was his first game-winner since the season-opener, Oct. 16 versus Clarkson, when his lamp-lighter with 4:45 remaining in regulation snapped a 4-4 deadlock.

Jason Baclig's second period assist was his 24th career helper moving him into a tie-for-13th place all-time with Brent Renfrew.

WSU improved to 4-6-1 when trailing after 40 minutes.

The Warriors are now 6-3 in one-goal games this year.