Late Surge Lifts Top-Ranked Minnesota State Past Bulldogs Before Sellout Crowd

Highlights

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team led the nation's number one team much of the way before a sellout crowd on Saturday (Jan. 17) night at the Ewigleben Ice Arena, but a trio of goals in the final period lifted top-ranked Minnesota State to a 3-1 triumph over the Bulldogs in Big Rapids.

Ferris State struck early in the weekend finale with a goal off the stick of sophomore forward Kyle Schempp only 2:44 into the opening frame. His sixth marker of the campaign gave FSU a 1-0 lead and was assisted by sophomore forward Gerald Mayhew along with junior defenseman Brandon Anselmini. It marked Schempp's second goal in as many nights as he had the lone FSU goal in Friday's 2-1 series-opening setback. Mayhew tallied his ninth assist with Anselmini notching his sixth of the year.

The one-goal lead for the Bulldogs stood up thru the remainder of the first and the entire second period as neither team could find the back of the net. It also lasted the initial 6:58 of the final period as FSU still held a 1-0 advantage with slightly more than 13 minutes to go.

However, the Mavericks scored three times down the stretch to pull out the win and complete the weekend sweep. Brad McClure started the scoring with a power-play goal 6:58 into the third following a Bulldog penalty with assists credited to Matt Leitner and Zach Palmquist. It was McClure's seventh goal of the year with Leitner picking up his 19th assist and Palmquist his 12th.

Then, at 11:28, Carter Foguth scored the eventual game-winner for Minnesota State off an assist from Jordan Nelson, giving MSU a 2-1 lead on his first goal this season and Nelson's fifth helper.

The Mavericks added a late goal at 16:58 of the third as C.J. Franklin tallied the final goal of the night for his sixth of the campaign with an assist going to Palmquist for his second of the evening and 13th overall of the year.

Minnesota State, playing before a sellout crowd of 2,490 Bulldog fans, posted a 33-22 edge in total shots for the evening with 10 in the first, 12 in the second and 11 more in the third. FSU matched the Mavericks with 10 shots in the opening frame, but then posted only five in the second to go with seven more in the final 20 minutes of action.

The Bulldogs' CJ Motte totaled 25 saves in the setback for Ferris State while Minnesota State's Stephon Williams made 21 saves in improving to 14-2-1 on the year with the victory.

Overall, Ferris State was called for seven penalties totaling 25 minutes in the box with Minnesota State whistled six times for 23 minutes. The Bulldogs failed to convert on three tries with the man-advantage and MSU went one-for-six against FSU's penalty kill unit.

With the loss, Ferris State dropped to 11-13-1 on the year and 8-8-0 in the WCHA. Minnesota State improved to 18-4-1 overall and 15-2-1 in league action.

The sellout marked FSU's 19th overall in the last three seasons inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena and came on the heels of a near-sellout crowd on Friday night. It also represented the 61st-straight sellout for the Bulldogs' Dawg Pound student section.

FSU will have a bye next week before resuming action on Jan. 30-31 with a weekend rematch against Minnesota State in Mankato, Minn. Both games get underway at 8:07 p.m. (ET).

The next home series for the Bulldogs is not until Feb. 13-14 when FSU entertains another top-10 ranked team in Bowling Green at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Tickets are on sale now at StarTickets.com or call 1-800-585-3737 to purchase in advance and save.