By Ben Shanahan

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

PITTSBURGH — Bowling Green State University hockey defeated Robert Morris’ return to NCAA Division I college hockey, 3-0, in a sold-out Clearview Arena in Pittsburgh on Saturday.

The Robert Morris University Colonials made their long-awaited return to college hockey by welcoming in the Bowling Green Falcons two years after the program was cut at the end of the 2021 season.

Also making his return to the ice for the first time in almost a year for the Falcons was redshirt sophomore Eric Parker, who was listed out of the lineup for BGSU due to illness. His last game played was November 19, 2022, in a 4-1 loss against Ferris State.

The Falcons were quick to ruin the Colonials return party as, 51 seconds into the game, transfer senior Spencer Kiersten would silence the red, white, and blue fans.

Falcon Sophomore Dalton Norris shot from the point rebounded onto the Kiersten stick and into the back of the net. 1-0, with 19:11 left in the opening frame.

Around seven minutes later, BGSU freshman Brandon Santa Juana was tripped by RMU’s Gavin Gulash, sending the Falcons on their first power play of the season.

With that power play, BGSU’s special teams capitalized only 34 seconds into the advantage. As junior forwards, Ryan O’Hara and Norris passed the puck back and forth until Norris finally got it past goalie Chad Veltri.

In the middle of the second period, it looked like Bowling Green was headed into another power play as Gulash found himself once again in the box. However, RMU challenged the play and it also resulted in a five-minute major from Dalton Norris, which sent Bowling Green to the penalty kill once Gulash’s two-minute minor was served.

On the penalty kill, the Falcons played it perfectly, keeping Robert Morris from taking a shot on a brilliant Christian Stoever, who ended his night with a 27-save shutout. Stoever made one spectacular save after another one, especially when the Falcons were not at full strength.

Late in the second period, Eric Parker’s return to college hockey also was spoiled, as he was called for contact to the head on a board call with seconds left in the middle frame. He was ejected from the rest of the contest but was able to play the home opener Sunday. BGSU once again killed the major penalty, this time only giving up three shots on net.

With only a few minutes left in regulation, sophomore and preseason All-Central Collegiate Hockey Association defensive coaches candidate Ben Wozney put the nail in the coffin with a long shot from behind the Falcons’ net and one side to the other into the back of the empty net, making the score 3-0, with 2:28 remaining in the third.

Norris, Ryan O’Hara and Owen Ozar tabbed assists for the Falcons in the win.