Bulldogs Not Able To Pull Off Series Sweep Over #4 Miami

Highlights 
Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 19th-ranked Ferris State University men's hockey team could not pull off a weekend sweep as FSU suffered a 4-2 loss to nationally fourth-ranked Miami (Ohio) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena on Saturday (Nov. 3) night.

FSU had posted a 3-0 shutout win over the RedHawks in Friday's series' opener in Big Rapids prior to the Saturday night setback.

Miami's Kevin Morris notched the first goal of the night 10:20 into the opening period with the assists going to Garrett Kennedy and Max Cook on the even-strength tally.

However, the Bulldogs answered back with 1:28 left in the first period when sophomore wing Justin Buzzeo scored his second goal of the weekend at 18:32 of the opening stanza. Sophomore defensemen Jason Binkley and sophomore wing Nate Milam earned the assists.

Sean Kuraly put Miami ahead 2-1 with a power-play goal at 3:19 of the second period off a pass from Matthew Caito and Riley Barber.  The goal was Kuraly's first of the campaign.

Then, at 4:20 into the third period, Austin Czarnik notched Miami's third goal of the evening to make it a 3-1 contest. Riley Barber and Curtis McKenzie were credited with the assists.

However, the Bulldogs battled back and pulled within a single goal at 14:07 of the final frame when senior center Travis Ouellette tallied his second goal of the season to make it a 3-2 game. Binkley and freshman defenseman Brandon Anselmini picked up the assists.

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to potentially tie up the contest in the closing minutes with a power play following a Miami penalty, but could not come up with a goal.  Miami scored the final goal of the evening on an empty net with 29 seconds remaining on the clock as Czarnik tallied his second goal of the night unassisted.

Bulldog sophomore CJ Motte registered 36 saves on the evening while the Redhawks' Jay Williams totaled 24 saves on the opposite end of the ice.  Motte also stopped a Miami penalty shot attempt early in the game.

With the split on the weekend, the Bulldogs currently hold an overall record of 3-3-2 along with a 2-2-0 record in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). Meanwhile, the Redhawks improved to a 5-2-1 overall record and 2-2-0 in the CCHA with Saturday's victory.

This weekend's series marked the last CCHA regular-season action between Ferris State and Miami as the Bulldogs move to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) and the Redhawks head to the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NCAC) next season.

After three consecutive weekends at home, the Bulldogs will now hit the road and travel to Lake Superior State next weekend (Nov. 9-10) to take on the Lakers for the only action between the two teams in regular-season play for the 2012-2013 season. Puck drop is set for 7:35 p.m. (ET) on Friday and 7:05 p.m. (ET) on Saturday night in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.