Monday, February 16, 2009

Western Michigan splits with Nanooks

By Karl Henkel/Western Michigan Beat Writer

Fresh off maybe the best weekend of his collegiate career, Western Michigan goaltender Riley Gill once again stole the show, albeit just in the opening game of a two-game set with Alaska.

The Broncos and Nanooks split the series, with WMU shutting out UAF in the first game 3-0 before falling in the capper, 4-3.

Gill had 41 saves in Friday’s shutout win, becoming the first Western Michigan netminder in program history (38 years) to put up back-to-back shutouts.

Tyler Ludwig and J.J. Crew scored for the Broncos and Patrick Galivan added an empty-netter.

Chad Johnson had 19 stops for UAF.

The second game provided as exciting of a finish imaginable, with Galivan attempting a penalty shot to tie the score with 21 seconds remaining in the third period. Had Galivan converted, he would have had a hat trick, as he scored the first two goals of the night for WMU.

UAF overcame a 2-1 deficit to build a 4-2 lead, which it nearly let slip away after Kyle O’Kane cut the lead to one in the third period.

Gill had 36 stops, including 21 in the third period, and Johnson made 24 saves for the Nanooks.

WMU (9-16-7, 6-12-6-2 CCHA) gets set to face Lake Superior State on the road. The Broncos are an impressive 4-0-2 in their last six road games.

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