Bulldogs Sweep RPI In Home-Opening Series
Big Rapids, Mich.- With freshman goaltender CJ Motte (St. Claire) in between the pipes, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team was able to shutout the RPI Engineers in a 2-0 decision this Saturday (Oct. 15) evening at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
With the victory, the Bulldogs remain unbeaten and are currently 4-0-0 overall. The Engineers dropped to 1-3-0 overall in the 2011-12 campaign with the setback under former FSU player Seth Appert.
Ferris State swept nationally 20th-ranked RPI in the weekend series' during FSU homecoming weekend following a 4-0 victory in the opener on Friday (Oct. 14) night.
Freshman forward Nate Milam (Westland) tallied the first goal of the game just 55 seconds after the opening faceoff. Milam's first career goal was unassisted on an even-strength play as he picked the puck off an RPI skater in the neutral zone and shot past the right side of the RPI goaltender from the outside circle. Milan totaled four shots on goal for the night.
The remainder of the first and second periods remained scoreless as the teams battled back and forth. Ferris State totaled eight penalties for 35 minutes in the box. RPI had seven penalties with 25 minutes.
Sophomore forward Garrett Thompson (Traverse City) secured the victory with an unassisted empty net goal with just eight seconds left in regulation. The lamp-lighter marked Thompson's fifth of his career and first of the 2011-12 season.
Bulldog goaltender Motte kept out 26 Engineer shots on goal while playing the entire 60 minutes. He earned his first shutout as a Bulldog and improved his 2011-12 season record to 2-0-0 overall. RPI's goaltender, Bryce Merriam, stopped 28 of the 29 Ferris State shots he faced.
Ferris State was 0-4 on the power play, but also killed all four chances the Engineers had with the man-advantage opportunity.
Ferris State remains at home next weekend as the Bulldogs open Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play against the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks in a two-game series at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Opening faceoff on both Friday and Saturday (Oct. 21-22) nights is at 7:05 p.m. (ET) in Big Rapids.
