Bulldog Hockey Falls To Bowling Green In CCHA Weekend Finale

Bowling Green, Ohio – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team suffered a 4-3 setback against Bowling Green State University Saturday (Dec. 9) in the Slater Family Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (5-10-1) dropped the weekend series to the Falcons following a close 1-0 decision on Friday. It was the first time the Falcons have beat the Bulldogs twice in a weekend series since Jan. 2021.

Bowling Green scored first Saturday courtesy of Josh Nodler's first goal as a Falcon. He scored on the power play at 4:59 in the first period with Gustav Stjernberg and Ryan O'Hara assisting.

The Falcons extended their lead at 3:14 in the second period with a goal from Spencer Kersten. Stjernberg collected another assist and Brandon Santa Juana also dished out a helper.

Ferris State answered with its first goal of the series at 5:46. Travis Shoudy ripped a shot from the high slot that found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Holden Doell earned his first collegiate point with an assist on Shoudy's goal.

Bowling Green reclaimed a two-goal lead with another power play strike from Nodler at 13:31. Brody Waters and Brayden Krieger dished out the helpers.

Trailing 3-1 at the start of the third period, the Bulldogs came out and established offensive pressure early. Nick Hale recorded his first goal in a Bulldog uniform at 2:49 in the third, with Shoudy assisting. Hale bombed a shot from the point that made its way through traffic and found the back of the net.

FSU got a power play chance later, and at 8:41, they converted with the game-tying goal. Jason Brancheau took a pass from Antonio Venuto that came through the crease and buried the Bulldogs' third goal of the night. Venuto and Shoudy assisted.

Bowling Green took the lead back at 13:26 and held it for the remainder of play. O'Hara worked into the low slot area and flipped a puck past Logan Stein for the game-winning goal. Kersten and Ben Wozney assisted.

Stein was pulled for the extra attacker late in the game as the Bulldogs tried to even the score. Ultimately, the Falcons held off a late push from FSU and defeated the Bulldogs, earning six conference points on the weekend.

Shoudy collected three points (1-2-3) in the loss, while Stein stopped 18-22 shots he faced. Bowling Green got two-point performances from O'Hara, Nodler, Stjernberg and Kersten. Cole Moore followed his 39-save shutout Friday with a 34-37 performance Saturday and finished the weekend 2-0.

The Bulldogs won 30 faceoffs and lost 34, went 1-3 on their power play chances and killed 3-5 power plays for Bowling Green. FSU outshot the Falcons 37-22 and blocked five shots compared to 13 for BGSU.

Ferris State will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 16, in the Ewigleben Ice Arena against Lake Superior State University. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 4:30 p.m. (ET) and on FloSports. Fans can stay after the contest for autograph night with the Bulldogs.