Bulldogs Push #3 Mavericks To The Brink But Fall In WCHA Quarterfinals

Mankato, Minn. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team held nationally third-ranked Minnesota State down offensively for much of game two of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) quarterfinals, but fell 3-1 after an empty net goal on Saturday (March 13) night at the Mayo Clinic Health System Even Center to finish the 2020-21 season.

Ferris State junior goaltender Roni Salmenkangas had a strong 28-save effort in the loss for the Bulldogs in goal.

The Bulldogs and Mavericks played nearly half the game scoreless until Walker Duehr scored on a one-timer at 9:03 of the second period in the low slot for a 1-0 MSU lead.

Early in the third period, Sam Morton fired a shot off the left goal post that hit Salmenkangas on the back of the right foot, banking its way into the open goal at 2:19 of the third period to make it 2-0.

On a late third period power play, senior forward Marshall Moise scored his fourth goal of the year, lifting a shot through traffic and past MSU goaltender Dryden McKay at 13:00 of the final period. Senior forward Coale Norris (9) and freshman forward Stepan Pokorny (7) picked up assists on the goal.

Finally, at 19:15, Jake Livingstone fired a shot 170-feet into the empty goal with Salmenkangas off for the extra attacker for the 3-1 final.

Ferris State finished 1-1 on the power play and held the nation's third-ranked power play (Minnesota State) off the board at 0-2.

The Bulldogs had an 18-17 edge in shots on goal in the last 40 minutes of play and the Mavericks finished with a 31-24 advantage overall on the night. McKay picked up the win with 23 saves for Minnesota State.

Ferris State's season came to a close with the setback. With 20 underclassmen from the 2020-21 roster set to return, the Bulldogs will join the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) for the 2021-22 campaign.