Oct. 4, 2002

DAYTON, Ohio -In the first-ever game at the Lefty McFadden Invitational in Dayton's Ervin J. Nutter Center the Bowling Green Falcons came out with a 4-1 victory over Niagara. Two third-period goals by the Falcons helped them get into tomorrow night's championship game.

Bowling Green churned out the invitational's first goal when junior Roger Leonard scored at 10:05 in the first period. Collecting assist's on the first "Lefty" goal was freshman Jon Sitko. Leonard's 14th career goal came when he beat the Purple Eagle's goalie with a wrist shot into the upper corner of the net.

The Purple Eagles responded with a goal of their own only 1:18 into the second frame to knot the game at 1-1. Scoring Niagara's first goal was junior Hannu Karru off a sequence of passes from senior Bernie Sigrist and junior Joe Tallari.

The contest remained tied for only a short while as the Falcons struck for a power-play goal at 18:30. Successful on their third power play of the game, junior Mark Wires one-timed a shot past Rob Bonk after freshman Mike Falk slipped a pass through the center of the zone. Also credited with an assist on the goal was Leonard, his second point of the game.

Bowling Green added an insurance goal, and its second power-play goal, with two seconds remaining in the game to advance to the championship game. Scoring the fourth goal for the Falcons was sophomore Steve Brudzewksi.

Bowling Green plays the winner of Miami/Air Force tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. for the Lefty McFadden Invitational crown. Niagara is set now to play to loser of that contest tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.