Pioneers Score Late To End Ferris State Hockey's Postseason Run

Video Highlights (NCAA.com)
Postgame Press Conference
Postgame Notes
FSU Postgame Quotes
DU Postgame Quotes

St. Paul, Minn. — Three late goals in the third period gave the Denver University Pioneers (25-9-6) a 6-3 win over the Ferris State Bulldogs (20-15-6) in the West Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament at the Xcel Energy Center on Sunday night. 

Ferris State was led by the team's top line with junior forward Gerald Mayhew scoring a goal and two assists while captain Kyle Schempp had a goal and an assist. Freshman forward Corey Mackin also had two power play points, adding a goal and an assist in a losing effort.

The Pioneers got off to a hot start, outshooting FSU 15-3 in the opening period, but the Bulldogs hung tough and stayed in the game by scoring goals on two of their three shots on net. 

Denver took an early 1-0 lead at 5:34 of the opening period on a power play goal by forward Danton Heinen. 

Ferris State tied the game 1-1 at 15:13 of the first when Mayhew converted on a breakaway opportunity, wristing the puck to the top left corner of the net for his 16th tally of the year. Assists were given to Schempp and sophomore defenseman Tyler Dorantes on the play. 

DU re-took the lead with 1:20 remaining in the first on a goal by Dylan Gambrell, but the Bulldogs evened the game at 2-2 exactly one minute later on the power play. Mackin shot the puck off the skate of a Pioneer defenseman who was standing in front of the net and the biscut deflected past the goal line for the freshman's 10th goal of the season. Mayhew and senior defenseman Simon Denis were credited with helpers on the FSU goal.

The lone strike of the middle period came off the stick of Denver forward Trevor Moore, who scored on a breakaway 2:49 into the second stanza and the Pioneers took a 3-2 lead into the third. 

For the third time in the game Ferris State tied things up with Schempp scoring his ninth goal of the season at 7:07 on the power play with assists from Mackin and Mayhew.

The game was still even with five minutes to go, but Denver took the lead back with a goal from defenseman Blake Hillman and controlled the remainder of the contest, scoring twice more before time ran out on FSU.

Ferris State freshman goaltender Darren Smith finished with 36 saves on the night, while winning netminder Tanner Jaillet stopped 18 shots for the Pioneers.

Denver outshot FSU 42-21 on the night and both teams converted twice on the power play with the Bulldogs finishing 2-of-3 on the man-advantage and DU ending 2-for-4.