Box Score BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The NMU hockey team opened up its weekend series with the CCHA foe Bowling Green Falcons, dropping the contest 6-2.

The Wildcats trailed 1-0 after the first period, but were then sprung ahead with two goals from Artem Shlaine and Michael Colella in the second period, giving the 'Cats a 2-1 lead going into the final frame. Five-straight Falcon goals proved too much for the 'Cats, and the green and gold dropped game one of the weekend series by a score of 6-2.

The Wildcats fall to 5-7-1 overall and 3-4-0 (9 pts) in CCHA play, and the Falcons improve to 4-9-0 overall and 2-3-0 (7 pts) in CCHA play.

Cat Nips

• Artem Shlaine scored his sixth goal of the season, extending his point streak to three games and sixth goal in as many games (6-3--9 in 6gp)
• Michael Colella scored a short handed goal, giving him his second tally of the year
• Kristof Papp registered his eighth assist of the season, giving him five points in four games (2-3--5)
• Josh Zinger recorded his 11th assist of the season, giving him back-back games with a point (0-2--2)

How It Happened
1st Period
The Falcons got the first quality look of the evening with a breakaway chance from Ethan Scardina. Scardina walked in all alone from the blue line and fired a shot low to the glove hand of Charlie Glockner from the hash marks, but Glockner was up to the task.

The Falcons struck first, coming on the power play. The Falcons gained the zone with a 4-on-2 opportunity, and Brody Waters received a cross-ice pass from right to left. Waters went to make another pass across the slot that got blocked, and the puck deflected off the shin pad of the defenseman and landed right back on his stick. Glockner, anticipating the pass to get through, was moving laterally and couldn't get back across in time to deny the Falcons fortunate bounce.

The Falcons would carry the 1-0 lead into the locker room, along with holding a 9-11 edge in shots. The Falcons held an edge in the faceoff dot, winning 13 of 21, and the 'Cats went 0/2 on the PP, with one opportunity only lasting six seconds. 

2nd Period
It was the Wildcats' turn on a breakaway opportunity, this time it was Tanner Latsch. Latsch came out of the penalty box and fired a shot and his own rebound, but Ethan Moore was to the test.

Not seconds later, Kristof Papp fired a shot from the point as Artem Shlaine was causing chaos in front of the net. Shlaine was able to get his stick on the shot and re-direct the puck over the stick-side shoulder of Moore, tying the game at one-a-piece.

The 'Cats were whistled for another penalty in the middle frame, and the short-handed unit got it done once again. Michael Colella blocked a shot at the blue line which sprung him on a breakaway. Colella didn't need a move, as he fired a shot from the slot past the ear of Moore to give the 'Cats a 2-1 lead with under three minutes left.

It was all NMU in the second frame, out-scoring the Falcons 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead into the final 20 minutes. The 'Cats were 0/1 on the PP and carried over a chance into the final frame, along with 3/3 on the PK with a crucial short-handed goal from Colella. The 'Cats outshot the Falcons 9-7. 

3rd Period
A bad giveaway sent Brody Waters on a breakaway from the redline in. He head faked before going backhand-forehand to beat the outstretched Glockner, scoring his second of the night and tying the game at two-a-piece.

Minutes later, Brett Pfoh used a burst of speed to get around his defender down the right side before moving the puck from his forehand to backhand and beating Glockner up over the stick side from in tight, giving the Falcons their second lead of the night.

The Falcons got a generous bounce on the power play as a blast from the point took a huge bounce off the back board, deflected off the leg of Glockner and found its way into the back of the net.

A minute later, Seth Fyten was left unattended in the slot and fired home his first goal of the season, giving the Falcons a three-goal lead and four straight goals. Fyten scored his second of the night with the net empty for the 'Cats, making it 6-2 with two minutes left.

Up Next
Game two against the Falcons in Bowling Green takes place tomorrow at 7:07 p.m. from the Slater Family Ice Arena.