Northern Michigan University’s Andre Ghantous, waits for a play to develop during the Wildcats’ game against Bowling Green State at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Saturday. Despite NMU losing 6-4, Ghantous registered three assists in the team’s opener. (Photo courtesy NMU)

MARQUETTE — As hockey fans often like to see lots of scoring and making the goal horn go off, Saturday’s season opener for the Northern Michigan University hockey team should’ve been entertaining to all.

But those rooting for the Wildcats had to go home disappointed as their team was tagged with a 6-4 loss to Bowling Green State.

With NMU selected second and Bowling Green third in the CCHA coaches preseason poll, this looked to be an even matchup, and it was as the score was tied multiple times.

Northern opened the scoring when redshirt freshman Reilly Funk scored his first collegiate goal just over eight minutes in. He took a deflection of a shot by junior Brett Willits and slid it into the net, according to an account from NMU Sports Information, with Simon Kjellberg also getting an assist.

About four minutes earlier, teammate Mikey Colella found himself in front of an open net but couldn’t score, while before Funk’s goal, BG had a 2-on-1 chance that NMU sophomore goalie Charlie Glockner was able to deflect out of play.

About five minutes after getting the lead, Northern had a power play and junior Artem Shlaine dinged the crossbar, according to NMU SI.

Then with less than three minutes remaining in the opening period, the Falcons tied the score as Chase Gresock scored with Taylor Schneider assisting.

Bowling Green used the late first-period momentum to take the lead only 65 seconds into period No. 2 when Max Coyle scored, then just 2:21 after that, made it 3-1 with a power play tally scored by Ethan Scardina.

It certainly didn’t look good for the Wildcats, giving up three straight goals, but NMU’s Shlaine came to the rescue barely six minutes after the Falcons’ third goal, scoring on a shot off passes from Joey Larson to Andre Ghantous to Shlaine, who was right in front of the net.

This momentum-changing game continued in Northern’s favor as less than four minutes later, with 6:35 left in the second period, Colella cashed in on a man advantage for his first goal of the season as Josh Zinger and Ghantous earned assists.

Colella made it two straight for him and three straight for the Wildcats just 2:43 into the third when he got assists from Ghantous and Larson to put NMU back on top 4-3.

But whether it was too much celebrating or just a new line appearing on the ice, the lead only lasted 37 seconds as Ryan O’Hara scored with an assist going to Jaden Grant.

Then just about 3 1/2 minutes after that, the Falcons took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish when Austin Swankler scored unassisted with 13:11 left.

The score remained 5-4 until Schneider scored into an empty net with 30 seconds remaining for the final margin.

In all, Colella scored twice, Ghantous registered three assists and Larson picked up two assists for Northern, which was scheduled to finish the season-opening series Sunday night back at the Berry Events Center.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.