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 Sophomore Mark Nebus had his fourth multiple-point game of the season. |
Jan. 15, 2005
Niagara Univ., N.Y. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (11-9-2 overall, 4-3-2 CHA) had another "split" weekend with a 4-2 setback at Niagara University (8-13-0, 3-5-0 CHA) Saturday night. WSU has played 11 series this year, with eight splits, a sweep over Canisius, a win and a tie at Robert Morris, along with a loss and a tie at Alabama-Huntsville last weekend.
Niagara's top-three point scorers entering Saturday's contest all produced as Barret Ehgoetz, who entered the weekend eighth nationally in points per game, scored the first two goals of the game at the 10:03 and 14:38 marks of the first period.
Unlike the night before where the first four goals were scored on the power play, all six goals were even-strength markers.
WSU battled back to within a goal on two occasions (2-1 and 3-2) but NU sealed the win with an empty-net goal by Sean Bentivoglio with one second remaining.
Warrior sophomore left wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) extended his goal-scoring streak to three games as he netted WSU's first tally of the contest with 1:39 remaining in the opening period. Bloomingburg's team-leading 14th lamp-lighter was assisted by redshirt freshman center Mike Forgie (Scarborough, Ont./Stouffville Spirit) and sophomore right wing Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado).
The Purple Eagles went ahead by two goals again on a marker by Ryan Gale, who entered the weekend seventh in the country in goals per game. Gale's 16th of the season came with 1:05 left in the middle stanza.
The teams were scoreless for the next 14 minutes until WSU junior wing John May (Livonia, Mich./Springfield Junior Blues) scored his seventh of the campaign off assists from Nebus and freshman center Stavros Paskaris (Dearborn, Mich./Kewadin Indians). For Nebus, it was his second two-assist game of the year and fourth multiple-point affair this season.
WSU sophomore netminder Will Hooper (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders) was pulled in the final minute but the Warriors could not score the equalizer. Hooper was credited with 15 saves in the contest, while Niagara's Scott Mollison stopped 23 Wayne State shots.
Each team went scoreless with the man-advantage (WSU 0-for-6, NU 0-for-5).
Wayne State has played eight of its 10 conference road games to date compiling a 3-3-2 mark with only a trip to Bemidji State (Feb. 4-5) remaining on the league docket. The Warriors still have eight conference home games left starting with a Saturday-Sunday series against CHA newcomer Robert Morris next weekend.
WSU is now 12-8-1 all-time against the Purple Eagles including a 5-5-0 mark at NU's Dwyer Arena.
