Pokorny Nets Dramatic OT Winner As Bulldogs Top Miami

Pokorny Nets Dramatic OT Winner As Bulldogs Top Miami

Postgame Highlights Video
Postgame Interview Video

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State Hockey sophomore forward Stepan Pokorny brought the Ewigleben Ice Arena crowd to its feet when he scored the shorthanded overtime game-winning goal to give the Bulldogs a 4-3 non-conference win over the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks on Sunday (Oct. 3).

The Bulldogs had to come from behind in the third period, but Pokorny's two-point effort and a 27-save outing by sophomore goaltender Logan Stein boosted the Bulldogs past the Redhawks.

It was the Redhawks who got on the board first, initally at 2:43 of the opening period when PJ Fletcher netted his first of the year for a 1-0 Miami lead early in the contest.

Less than five minutes later, Ferris State freshman forward Kaleb Ergang separated his man from the puck, dished it to Pokorny, who centered it out front for sophomore forward Mitch Deelstra He tied the game at 1-1 at 7:21 of the first. Ergang's assist was his first collegiate point while Deelstra picked up his first goal of the year. Pokorny's assist was also his first of the season.

Late in the opening frame, Matt Barry gave the Redhawks the lead back on a shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle, making it a 2-1 contest.

In the second period, Stein shined for the Bulldogs, making 12 stops including several key shorthanded saves to keep the Bulldogs within a goal.

Early in the third period, Ferris State sophomore forward Antonio Venuto ripped a one-timer over Miami goaltender Logan Neaton's glove to even the game at 2-2. Senior forward Justin Michaelian and sophomore defenseman Luke Farthing picked up their first assists of the year on Venuto's second goal of the season.

After the Redhawks took a pair of late penalties, the Bulldogs cashed in when freshman forward Bradley Marek scored his first collegiate goal at 18:26 on the five-on-three advantage to give Ferris State a late 3-2 lead in the third. Senior forward Liam MacDougall (2) and junior forward Dallas Tulik (3) earned the assists on the goal.

The lead lasted only 34 seconds. Shorthanded, the Redhawks pulled their goaltender and scored at 19:00 when Jack Clement got alone in front of Stein and tipped the puck by him to tie the game at 3-3.

Early in overtime, MacDougall took a tripping penalty for the Bulldogs, resulting in a four-on-three advantage for the Redhawks. Midway through the kill, junior defenseman Blake Evennou tipped the puck ahead to Pokorny who cleared the zone.

On the rush down the ice, Pokorny fired the shot into the knees of Miami's Neaton. The rebound came out to the bottom of the left circle where Pokorny's dogged pursuit paid off when he lifted it past Neaton for the game-winning goal. The goal was Pokorny's first of the year. Evennou picked up his first assist of the year on the play.

Ferris State won the shots battle for the second-straight night (33-30) and had a punishing 17-10 edge in the second frame. The Bulldogs went 1-6 on the power play and held the Redhawks 0-5. 

In goal, Neaton made 29 saves for the Redhawks while Logan Stein picked up his first collegiate victory in a 27-save effort.

Ferris State hits the road to take on the Western Michigan Broncos in the first of a home-and-home series, opening at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday (Oct. 8) at 7 p.m. (ET).