By Ben Shanahan

Special to the Sentinel-Tribune

Bowling Green State University hockey defeated Ferris State University, 4-3, to earn the Falcons’ first weekend sweep of the season on Saturday at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

BGSU improves to 7-11 on the season, but more importantly the Falcons even their Central Collegiate Hockey Association record to 5-5 after a rough start. Ferris State falls to 5-10-1 and 3-7.

Tradition played a part in the win, too. BGSU coach Ty Eigner was ecstatic to see the teams win with equipment manager Scott “Scooter” Jess’s viral diamond cutter, saying it is something that makes college hockey special.

Jess is most known for what he does after the Falcons sweep their opponent. It is called the diamond cutter, where he goes onto a cooler and jumps, making a diamond shape with his hands.

He credits the move to world championship wrestler, Diamond Dallas Page.

“It was great to see the diamond cutter,” Eigner said. “Some guys have not seen it before. They have only seen it online as a viral sensation.

“Those are the kinds of things that make college hockey what it is — scorpion jumping off the cooler, and some other historic tradition in college hockey. So for our guys to celebrate with Scooter was really fun,” added Eigner.

BGSU senior Josh Noddler and the Bowling Green power play was the difference, going 2-for-5 with the man advantage, with Noddler scoring both power play goals.

“Those guys did a good job on the power play, and the sentiment in the room kept crashing and doing what we were doing. It had not been going well, so it was big to see those goals,” said Noddler.

Bowling Green headed to the power play less than four minutes after the opening puck drop as Ferris State extra skater Trevor Trulien headed to the box for an interference penalty.

On the power play, the Falcons opened up the scoring as Noddler corralled a pass from freshman Gustav Stjernberg and fired it from the left faceoff dot, scoring with 15:01 left in the opening period.

Ferris State followed with two chances on the power play, first with 9:28 left when Seth Fyten was called for roughing after the whistle. Then, with 6:10 left, Ben Wozney was called on a high sticking minor. The Falcons penalty unit killed off both man advantages.

BG looked to add to their lead as they went back on the power play when FSU sophomore defenseman Andy Noel was called for roughing, however the Falcons failed to score and both teams went into the locker with BGSU enjoying a 1-0 lead.

The Falcons did add to their lead early in the second period as Stjernberg earned his second assist of the game, finding senior Spencer Kersten wide open on the left side of Logan Stein, making it 2-0 with 16:45 remaining.

Ferris State scored their first goal of the series with 14:13 remaining as freshman Holden Doell, sitting behind the net, passed it to sophomore Travis Shoudy, whose point-blank one-timer made it 2-1.

Noddler scored his second power play goal after Ferris State freshman Emerson Goode was called for a trip. With four seconds left on that power play, Noddler wacked at a loose puck in front of Stein, making the game 3-1 with 6:23 left in the second.

Bowling Green headed back on the power play less than a minute later as Ferris State senior captain Brendan MacLaren was caught with a hold. Luckily for Ferris, they killed this penalty off and headed to the final 20 minutes of regulation, only down by two, 3-1.

Ferris State cut into the two-goal lead in the form of senior Nick Hale, who’s blue line blast got past screened BGSU freshman goaltender Cole Moore, who never saw the puck until it was 3-2 with 17:11 remaining.

The Bulldogs headed to the power play looking to tie it at three with 11:51 left in regulation because Stjernberg was called for interference. On that power play, Antonio Venuto fired a cross crease pass that was tipped by senior alternate captain Jason Brancheau, making it 3-3 with 11:19 left.

Bowling Green, 2-for-4 on the power play to that point, had their fifth attempt of the night as FSU freshman Emerson Goode headed to the box for roughing after the whistle, but the penalty was killed off by the Bulldogs, keeping the game tied with 8:31 remaining.

BGSU junior forward Ryan O’Hara became the game hero as Spencer Kersten fired a pass into a heavily crowded crease, finding O’Hara’s stick to the back of the net with the game-winning goal with 6:34 left in the game.

Moore recorded 34 saves on the night which tallies his sixth game with 30 or more goals.

Bowling Green will be on the road next week, when they travel to Bemidji, Minnesota where they will face Bemidji State in a CCHA matchup.

The first game is set for Thursday, puck drop set for 8:07 p.m., and the second game will be Friday at 8:07 p.m. in Sanford Center.