Bulldogs Battle To Finish But Fall To Broncos At Home

Bulldogs Battle To Finish But Fall To Broncos At Home

Postgame Highlights Video
Postgame Press Conference Video

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team lead twice in the third period, but fell 4-3 to the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday (Oct. 9) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena in non-league action.

Ferris State senior forward Ethan Stewart scored twice to pace the Bulldog offensive attack on the night.

The Bulldogs jumped in front at 13:07 when senior forward Marshall Moise roped a shot from the outside of the right wing circle that knuckled through traffic past WMU goaltender Brandon Bussi for a 1-0 Bulldog lead. Moise scored his second goal of the year while senior forward Liam MacDougall picked up his third assist of the season and sophomore forward Stepan Pokorny his second of the campaign.

Late in the first period, Stewart busted down the left wing wall past a Bronco defender to the goal and beat Bussi five-hole for a 2-0 lead and his first goal of the year at 17:36 of the stanza. Sophomore defenseman Sam Skinner picked up his first assist of the year on the play while senior forward Jake Transit earned his second.

Western Michigan clawed back, cutting the 2-0 lead in half at 11:45 of the second period when Ronnie Attard scored from the point to pull WMU back within a goal.

Later, at 10:36 of the third period, Ethen Frank evened the game at 2-2 for Western Michigan.

Less than two minutes later, Stewart brought the crowd to its feet, finishing on a scrum in front for his second goal of the night at 12:18 of the final frame. Transit earned his third assist of the year on the goal for a 3-2 Bulldog lead.

The lead lasted until Cole Gallant danced through traffic and evened the score at 3-3 on a rush down the middle at 16:40 of the third period for the Broncos. Jason Polin then potted the winner at 18:44 of the third period.

Western Michigan narrowly won the shots on goal battle 26-23 while both squads went 0-5 on the power play. 

In goal, Ferris State sophomore Logan Stein made 22 saves in the loss, while Bussi made 20 for the Broncos in a winning effort.

Ferris State is off until Friday, Oct. 22 , when the Bulldogs hit the road to open Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) action at St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. Puck drop is set for 8:07 p.m. (ET).