Chargers split at Western Michigan...series ends with brawl
Antoine Bell, UAH Sports Information
Kalamazoo, MI - The UAH-Western Michigan series had seen its share of rough play and penalties in the first game. On Saturday, things went past "chippy" after the Broncos edged the Chargers 4-3. It was the first loss of the season for UAH (3-1).
When it was all over, the Chargers had had a game-tying goal wiped away for no apparent reason and 14 players had been smacked with 10-minute majors following a brawl. Four of the players, two from each team, received game disqualifications.
Western Michigan (2-1-1) got on the board first on a shorthanded goal by David Gove at 3:54 in the opening period. Later in the period, Ron Baker tied the game for UAH with goal at 10:41. Ryan McCormack and Tyler Butler had the assists on the play.
With three seconds left in the first period, Bryan Farquhar put the Broncos back on top with a goal, giving WMU a 2-1 lead.
After another Broncos goal put the Chargers in a 3-1 hole, Baker scored his second power play goal of the game off of assists by McCormack and Jessi Otis.
Then, at the 14:26 mark of the second period, Darren Curry tied the game with an assist from Gerald Overton.
In the third period, Gove scored the game-winner on an unassisted goal at 7:19.
The Chargers (3-1-0) thought they had forced overtime with a goal with just 26 seconds left. However, the goal was dissallowed by the referee. No explanation was given as to why the referee blew his whistle. The puck was loose. Their were no UAH players in the crease. SO WHY! Nobody knows.
The clock ran out from that botched moment in time and the Chargers had to swallow their first setback of the season.
The Chargers will open their College Hockey America schedule next weekend at Bemidji State.
UAH vs Western Michigan Game 2 Box Score
Next Game: vs. Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN on October 27, 7:35 p.m.
Chargers beat Western Michigan in overtime
Antoine Bell, UAH Sports Information
It's official, the 2000-2001 Chargers are for real. On Friday night, the Chargers went up to Kalamazoo, Mich. and outgunned the homestanding Western Michigan Broncos 6-5 in overtime.
The Chargers blew a 5-3 lead in the third period to force the extra period. But, Ron Baker's goal at 1:49 in overtime to lift the Chargers to victory.
UAH improved to 3-0 on the season, while WMU fell to 1-1-1 going into tonight's second game.
Western Michigan scored first on its home ice with a goal at 7:42 in the first period. Karlis Zirnis evened things up for UAH with a power-play goal off of an assist by Darren Curry at 16:43. The Broncos retook the lead less then 30 seconds later on a goal by Mark Wilkinson and led 2-1 at the end of a period.
The second period belonged to UAH. The Chargers outscored the home team 3-1 to take a 4-3 lead going into the final period. Zirnis tied the game at 2-2 on another power-play goal, with assists from Steve Charlebois and Dwayne Blais 32 seconds into the period.
Jeff Campbell put the Broncos back on top with a goal at 2:20.
Jessi Otis and Darren Curry scored back-to-back goals at 5:18 and 6:49 to give the Chargers their first lead of the game.
Fourty-five seconds into the third period, Curry gave the Chargers a 2-goal lead with his second goal of the season. It was UAH's third power-play goal of the game.
However, the Broncos came roaring back in the third period. Shaun Rose cut the UAH lead to one with a goal at 9:26 into the period. Dana Lattery tied the score 22 seconds later with a shot past Charger goalie Mark Byrne.
In the overtime period, Joel Breciani and Zirnis combined to find Baker for the game winner.
Zirnis and Curry each finished the game with two goals and two assists. Bresciani and Dwayne Blais had two assists each, while Charlebois, Mike Funk and Ryan McCormack had one.
UAH vs Western Michigan Game 1 Box Score
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