Nationally-Ranked Bulldogs Suffer 4-0 Loss At Lake Superior State

Watch: Post Game Press Conference - FSU Head Coach Bob Daniels

A four-goal second-period output by Lake Superior State was all the Lakers needed en route to a 4-0 win over the nationally 20th-ranked Ferris State University men's ice hockey team this Saturday (Nov. 13) in a Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) weekend series finale contest at LSSU's Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The Bulldogs, who are 5-5-2 overall and 2-4-2-2 in the CCHA as a result of the loss, were unable to generate a goal for the second consecutive night as LSSU goaltender Kevin Kapalka turned in another commendable performance with a 33-saves shutout effort and earned first star of the game recognition as a result.

Ferris State came out hard in the first period, applying offensive pressure on Kapalka as the Bulldogs would go on to outshoot Lake Superior State 11-5 in the opening frame.

The second period was one Ferris State would just soon forget as the puck bounced the Lakers' way throughout the second 20 minutes of play.  LSSU tallied the contest's first score at 1:07 into the period as Kellan Lain netted his first of the year.  The host Lakers didn't waste much time in adding to their 1-0 lead, scoring 48 seconds later when Domenic Monardo connected for his first of two lamplighters on the night.

Lake Superior State would bring its lead up to 3-0 at the 4:37 mark into the second when Fred Cassiani's shot from outside the crease was successful.  The final score in the contest would occur with 8:14 remaining in the stanza as Domenic Monardo potted another goal for the Lakers, who were outshot 13-11 in the period.

Ferris State had a couple of opportunities to avoid the shutout, but Kevin Kapalka turned aside all nine third-period shots on goal.

Senior goaltender Pat Nagle (Bloomfield) took the loss with 12 saves in the first two periods.  Nagle, who was this week's CCHA Goaltender of the Week, registered seven of those 12 stops in the second period.  Junior Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) relieved Nagle at the start of the third period and made all five saves. 

The Bulldogs did manage to outshoot the Lakers 33-21 for the game and both teams were unsuccessful in four chances apiece on the power play.

Ferris State returns home next weekend, Nov. 19-20, as the Bulldogs host the Western Michigan Broncos in a two-game CCHA set at Big Rapids, Mich.  The puck will drop for both contests at 7:05 p.m. (EST) inside FSU's Ewigleben Ice Arena in a matchup between the two West Michigan rivals.  For tickets, please call (231) 591-2888 or order online at www.startickets.com.