FSU Hockey Drops Series Finale To Irish

Highlights

South Bend, Ind. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team fell to nationally seventh-ranked Notre Dame in a 4-1 road decision on Saturday (Dec. 10) to split a home-and-home Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) series with the Fighting Irish at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend.

With the loss, nationally ninth-ranked FSU dropped to 11-6-3 overall and 7-6-1 in CCHA action.  FSU had beat the Irish by an identical 4-1 score in Big Rapids on Friday (Dec. 9) night to open the series.

The Irish got on the board at 6:59 of the first period as sophomore Jeff Costello scored a power-play goal on Ferris State freshman goaltender CJ Motte (St. Claire). The physical first period saw the Bulldogs tallying eight penalties for 16 minutes. The Fighting Irish had four penalties for eight minutes. Motte tallied fifteen saves in the first 20 minutes.

The Bulldogs cracked the scoreboard at the 11:35 mark of the second period as sophomore forward Garrett Thompson (Traverse City) scored his third goal of the season by putting the puck under the a Notre Dame blocker. FSU freshmen Nate Milam (Westland) and Simon Denis (Burnaby, British Columbia) tallied the assists.

However, with 15 seconds remaining in the second period, the Fighting Irish scored their second power-play goal of the night as TJ Tynan found the back of the net.  Assists went to Riley Sheahan and Billy Maday.

Both teams tallied eight shots on goal in the second period.

In the third period, the Fighting Irish's Mike Voran made the score 3-1 as he tallied Notre Dame's lone even-strength goal of the night. Costello and Shane Tayker picked up the helpers.

An empty net goal by Voran with 22 seconds left in the game gave the Fighting Irish a 4-1 victory.

The game wrapped up with Notre Dame having 29 shots on goal. The Bulldogs rallied with 11 shots on goal in the third for a total of 23 on the night.

Ferris State finished 0-of-4 on the power play while Notre Dame was 2-of-8 on the night.  Overall, FSU was called for 15 penalties totaling 38 minutes while the Irish had 11 for 30 minutes.

The Bulldogs will break for the holidays before returning to action on Dec. 29 against RIT in the Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamount Cup in Burlington, Vt.  FSU will then face Vermont the following day (Dec. 30) in the event.

Ferris State will be back home January 6-7 as they take on Colgate in a non-conference series at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids. Friday's game has a 7:05 p.m. (ET) start time with Saturday's contest slated for a 4:05 p.m. (ET) puck drop.