After getting thumped by No. 8/No. 7 Bowling Green State on Friday, things started out a little better for the Wildcats in Saturday’s nonconference rematch.

But they still gave up the first goal and had to play from behind the rest of the way as the Falcons handed them a 6-2 loss. With the defeat, NMU’s losing streak reached six and its record fell to 2-8.

Unlike the previous night, the Wildcats looked a little sharper coming out of the gates as they kept the puck in the BGSU zone early. However, Northern couldn’t find the back of the net, and once again had to play from behind. At the 7:42 mark, BG’s Cameron Wright got a cross-ice pass from Garrett Daly and blasted a one-timer past NMU goalie John Hawthorne to opening the scoring.

Less than three minutes later at 10:40, the Falcons struck again as Max Johnson fed Brandon Kruse in the slot and slid a backhanded shot past Hawthorne to make it 2-0.

Jett Jungels

But the Wildcats answered back quickly. Barely more more than a minute later, Vincent de Mey blasted a shot from the point that deflected off Jett Jungels and past Falcons netminder Zack Rose. It was Jungels’ first career goal.

Down 2-1 to open the second period, Northern started off aggressively. After failing to score on an early power play, NMU almost tied things up with 13:58 left on a rebound by Joe Nardi, but Rose scrambled and kept the puck out.

Then the Wildcats hurt themselves. With Mike Van Unen in the box, the Falcons’ Will Cullen sent a cross-ice pass over to Alex Barber, who one-timed it into the open net for a 3-1 lead.

Needing a break to get back in the game, NMU got it at the 12:09 mark as de Mey blasted a shot from the right circle past Rose with the ‘Cats on the power play to cut the deficit back to one.

However, just when it looked as if things might start going Northern’s way, the Falcons cashed in. After a shot by Barber was saved by Hawthorne, Taylor Schneider was right there in the crease to tap in the rebound and put BGSU up 4-2 going into the third.

John Hawthorne

The Falcons put the game away in the middle part of the final period. At 8:17, Johnson got a nice pass with BGSU on the power play and beat Hawthorne low to make it 5-2, then at the 14:28 mark, Cullen deked around two defenders in the NMU defensive zone and faked out Hawthorne before putting the puck in the back of the net to cap off the win.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.