FSU

Ferris State Battles Alaska To Overtime In Series-Opening Setback

Fairbanks, Alaska – Ferris State erased three separate one-goal deficits to send a hotly contested Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) battle with the Alaska Nanooks to overtime, but fell in the extra session, 4-3 at the Carlson Center on Friday, (Nov. 30).

Ferris State sophomore forward Coale Norris and freshman defenseman Cooper Zech each picked up a goal and an assist to lead the way for Ferris State.

The Nanooks got on the board first when Max Newton scored from Kyle Marino and James LaDouce for a 1-0 UAF lead at 2:10 of the second, but the lead would last less than three minutes.

After keeping a puck in the zone, FSU's Norris turned a long shot on goal that hit a Nanook defender and floated past UAF goaltender Gustavs Grigals to tie the game at 1-1. The goal was unassisted, and stood as the fourth of the season for Norris.

The 1-1 tie lasted just 57 seconds as the UAF's Tristan Thompson fired in his second of the year for a 2-1 Alaska lead at 5:50 of the second period from Nikolas Koberstein and Colton Leiter.

In the late stages of the second period, Nate Kallen knotted the game up with his second goal of the year on the power play for Ferris State, with the assists credited to Zech (7) and Norris (4).

Alaska reclaimed the lead 4:11 into the third when Max Newton picked up his second of the night from Koberstein and Thompson for a 3-2 lead.

At 15:18 of the third period, Zech finally cashed in on his second of the year to tie the game at 3-3. Junior forward Oskar Andren picked up his seventh assist of the season on Zech's goal.

Alaska would take the game 21 seconds into overtime when Steven Jandric scored from Kylar Hope for the 4-3 victory.

The shot battle finished in a tie at 26-26. Ferris State finished 1-4 on the power play and held Alaska 0-3.

Ferris State freshman goaltender Roni Salmekangas took the loss, making 22 stops, while Grigals picked up his third win of the season on 23 saves.

The Bulldogs wrap up the weekend and season series with the Nanooks at the Carlson Center at 11:07 pm EST on Saturday, (Dec. 1).