Lake Superior State Tops Ferris State Men's Hockey With Third Period Comeback

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. — A three-goal rally in the third period by Lake Superior State (4-9-3, 2-3-3 WCHA) gave the Lakers a 3-2 victory over the Ferris State Bulldogs (6-6-4, 5-5-2 WCHA) in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play at the Taffy Abel Arena on Saturday night. 

Sophomore forward Drew Mayer and senior forward Kenny Babinski led the way offensively for FSU, each picking up two points while freshman defenseman Ryker Killins scored his second goal of the year in the loss.

Freshman goaltender Darren Smith made 35 saves for the Bulldogs, while Gordon Defiel had 36 stops to earn the victory for LSSU.

It was Mayer who gave Ferris State the lead just 1:53 into the contest with his first goal of the season. After a face-off win by Babinski, junior defenseman Ryan Lowney took a shot from the left point that was redirected into the net by Mayer. The goal was upheld after a review, giving FSU the early lead.

The game stayed at 1-0 all the way until the end of the second period, when Killins increased the Bulldogs' advantage to 2-0, scoring on a seeing-eye wrist shot from the right circle that beat Defiel glove side. Assists on the goal were given to both Mayer and Babinski, making each of their nights multi-point efforts.

FSU entered the third period with a 2-0 lead, but a late second period penalty to Killins for hooking deployed the Bulldogs' penalty kill at the beginning of the final frame. A goal by forward Alex Globke 24 seconds into the third gave Lake Superior State its first goal of the weekend series and made the score 2-1.

LSSU then evened the game at 2-2 just 1:12 later on a tally by defenseman Peter Spratte at 1:36 of the third period.

Both teams traded chances until defenseman Owen Headrick scored the difference-maker for Lake Superior State at 16:39 of the third to make it 3-2.

The Bulldogs had a late comeback attempt, pulling Smith in favor of an extra attacker, but came up short at the buzzer.

Both teams finished with 38 shots on goal, while Lake Superior State scored the only power play tally of the night, going 1-for-6 with the man-advantage. FSU was held scoreless on three power play opportunities.

Ferris State returns home next weekend to host the Bemidji State Beavers in a two-game weekend series at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids on Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:07 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through the FSU Athletics Office, online at StarTickets.com, or by calling 1-800-585-3737.