Ferris State Hockey Opens Season with Dramatic Come from Behind Win Over Miami (Ohio) in Overtime

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview - Coach Daniels 
Postgame Interview - Jason Brancheau 
Postgame Interview - Antonio Venuto 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team opened the 2023-24 season with a 5-4 overtime win over the Miami (Ohio) Redhawks in Big Rapids Saturday (Oct. 7) night.

FSU (1-0-0) trailed 4-1 heading into the third period, but a strong offensive showing and dominant performance by starting goaltender Noah Giesbrecht in the third period helped propel the Bulldogs to a dramatic comeback victory. 

Jason Brancheau tallied the game-winning goal in overtime, while Antonio Venuto had a two-goal performance, including the game-tying goal with less than 30 seconds to play in the third period. 

Miami got out to an early lead, as John Waldron scored first just 3:47 into the contest. Hampus Rydqvist ripped a shot from the blue line that Giesbrecht saved, but a big rebound fell right to Waldron in the slot, and he gave Miami a 1-0 lead.

Connor McGrath took a boarding penalty at 4:31, and the first power play for Miami resulted in another goal. Matthew Barbolini earned the power play tally, and the Redhawks led 2-0.

Miami was not done there, as they tacked on a third goal before the end of the first period. Frankie Carogioiello scored at the 12:20 mark, and Miami cruised to a 3-0 lead going into the first intermission.

The Bulldogs answered first in period two courtesy of Venuto. He caught a rebound off a shot from Brancheau and forced the puck behind Miami's goaltender Logan Neaton. Venuto's first tally of the campaign got FSU on the board just 2:39 into the period.

Despite continued offensive pressure from FSU in the second period, it was Miami that scored next. Giesbrecht saved a big shot from PJ Fletcher, but Thomas Daskas beat him to the rebound and Daskas' first goal of the year put Miami back up by three. 

FSU trailed 4-1 going into the third period. They immediately went to work in the offensive zone. Just 1:24 into the third, Kaleb Ergang rebounded a shot from Caiden Gault and beat Neaton to the near side post to pull the Bulldogs within two.

One minute later, freshman Jack Mesic recorded his first collegiate goal, and the Bulldogs were down 4-3. McGrath and Nick Nardecchia tallied assists.

The Bulldogs kept the pressure on, testing Neaton 11 more times in the third period. Their 12th attempt found the back of the net and forced overtime. With Giesbrecht pulled, the Bulldogs had the extra attacker out. Stepan Pokorny won a faceoff cleanly back to Brenden MacLaren. FSU worked the puck around to Travis Shoudy, who ripped a shot from the point that was deflected in front of the net. Venuto pounced on the rebound and buried his second goal of the night to send the Bulldogs into overtime.

It took 4:33 of the 5:00 overtime, but Brancheau clinched the game winner for FSU. Shoudy beat the Redhawk defense, forcing Neaton out of the goal. Brancheau collected the rebound and fired the puck into the back of the net, earning Ferris State a 5-4 victory.

Giesbrecht finished the game 30-34, including a perfect 10-10 in the third period and overtime. Neaton made 40 saves and allowed five goals.

Brancheau led the way with three points for FSU. Venuto had two goals while Mesic, Brancheau and Ergang each had one. Ferris State got two assists from Shoudy and Brancheau and one from McGrath, Nardecchia, Gault and Pokorny. 

Both teams took four penalties, with the Redhawks converting on one power play and Ferris State going 0-4 on the power play. 

The Bulldogs controlled the faceoff circle, thanks in large part Pokorny's outstanding 25-8 record from the dot. Overall, FSU went 46-34.

Ferris State will be back in action Sunday, Oct. 8 for the weekend series' fnale against the Miami Redhawks in Ewigleben Ice Arena. Puck drop is set for 5:07 p.m. (ET). All FSU students can get in free with a valid student ID card for Sunday's contest.