Ferris State Hockey Unable To Complete Weekend Sweep With One-Goal Setback

Ferris State Hockey Unable To Complete Weekend Sweep With One-Goal Setback

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team could not complete a season-opening weekend sweep as the Bulldogs suffered a close 1-0 loss in non-league action at Colgate in afternoon action on Sunday (Oct. 6) at Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y.

The Bulldogs, who had won Saturday's season opener against the Raiders by a 7-4 count, fell to 1-1 overall with the loss as Colgate also evened its mark at 1-1 on the year.

Colgate senior Eric Mihalik earned his second career shutout by blanking the Bulldogs while stopping 25 FSU scoring opportunities, including nine in the first period.  The Raiders also blocked 21 Ferris State shots on the day before a crowd of 1,045 fans.

The lone goal of the contest came from Colgate's Kyle Baun, who tallied his first marker of the year at 10:28 of the second period on the power play.  Tyson Spink and Mike Borkowski were credited with assists.

The Bulldogs mixed up the lineup for the series' finale with sophomore Charles Williams earning the start in net and he made 28 saves, including a pair of highlight-reel stops prior to the lone goal of the contest.

Colgate held a 29-25 edge in total shots for the game, which included a contest-high 11 shots in the first period of play.

Both teams were called for five penalties totaling 10 minutes in the box, but Colgate capitalized on one of its five power-play opportunities for the lone goal.  FSU was held without a goal in five power-play chances.

Ferris State did have a golden opportunity early in the second period with 1:21 of 5-on-3 power play time, but Mihalik made a pair of stops and the Colgate penalty kill unit blocked a few to keep it at a one-goal game.

The penalties on the Raiders continued into the third with a pair of power play chances for the Bulldogs in the first part of the final frame.

The Bulldogs tried to tie the game with the goalie pulled for the extra skater. However, Colgate's Tylor Spink was able to win several faceoffs in his own end after a flurry of icing calls on the Raiders. He won a total of four faceoffs. Mihalik also made a key save down the stretch to earn the shutout.

Sophomore Matt Robertson led the Bulldogs with four shots in the game while TJ Schlueter had three tries on net with the puck for the Bulldogs.

Ferris State will return to action with a single game on Tuesday, Oct. 15, against Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa.  The puck drop for the non-league tilt is slated for 7:05 p.m. (ET).

FSU then returns home for its home-opening series on Oct. 18-19 versus St. Lawrence at the Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids.  Both games are scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (ET) start times with the series' finale on Oct. 19 serving as FSU's first-ever "Pink in the Rink" game to benefit cancer research.

Single-game tickets for all FSU home hockey contests are on sale now and can be purchased thru the FSU Athletics Ticket Office inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex, online at StarTickets.com or by calling (800) 585-3737.  For more information, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com or call (231) 591-2888.