Gill’s 40 saves leads WMU to 2-1 win over Lake Superior State

By Kristen Vermetten
Western Herald

(Chyn Wey Lee/ Western Herald) Western Michigan University goalie Riley Gill had 40 saves in 41 shots during Saturday night's game against Lake Superior State.

Lawson Arena was filled with pride Saturday night as the Western Michigan University hockey team honored the United States Armed Forces with its Military Appreciation Night.

The team, adorned in specially made camouflage jerseys, accompanied children of a fallen soldier to drop the first pucks of the evening. A moment of silence to respect the men and women serving the United States and their families united both the Broncos and Lake Superior State University before Western Michigan’s 2-1 win at Lawson Ice Arena.

“I am really proud of our university, hockey program, our staff and the team,” WMU head coach Culhane said about the night. “The applause at the beginning of the game was a very warm, touching moment for everybody.”

After a tight first period, WMU (5-2-1, 1-2-1-1 CCHA) sophomore right wing Ian Slater scored the first goal of the evening right in front of LSSU’s (4-5-1, 1-4-1-0 CCHA) net, the assists from senior center Chris Clackon and senior left wing Cam Watson at 14:00 in the second period. The period improved in intensity, but continued to lack the action that fans anticipated from Friday nights game.

“It must be a full moon,” Slater joked about his second goal of the weekend and season. “I am hoping to just keep it going.”

A quick goal right at the 59 seconds into the third period by junior center Patrick Nagorsen assisted by freshman left defenseman Luke Witkowski and freshman forward Trevor Elias started off the third with vigor.

With the assists, Elias extends his streak to eight straight games with a point.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHxbJ4a2aqc[/youtube]

The first penalty on the evening was shortly after at 1:15 on LSSU’s senior defenseman Simon Gysbers for slashing. At last, the physical game fans had asked for erupted. Sophomore left wing Greg Squires was put in the box at 9:24 for charging for the only Bronco penalty of the night.

“I just tried to stay aggressive and stay strong in there,” senior goalie Riley Gill said. “We got the job done and got the clears that we needed to out of the zone, it was a great first conference win.”

The Lakers got its goal on the power play at 10:01 into the final period. The shot by junior right wing Chad Nehring was assisted by senior forward Zac MacVoy and junior left wing Rick Schofield. Their good fortune didn’t last long, as at 11:17, Bronco fans welcomed LSSU’s junior center Tyson Hobbins to the penalty box for contact to the head. Both teams grew in aggression in the last minutes of the game.

“I felt we played a complete game,” Culhane said. “It really had similar intensity and emotion from the play off series that we had against the Lakers last spring.”

Out of desperation, Lake Superior State pulled junior goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson at 18:55 hoping to put pressure in WMU’s zone. Gill continued to fight and blocked 40 of 41 shots bringing the Broncos to its first conference win.

The Brown and Gold will be taking on Ohio State University next weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Nov 7 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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