Bulldogs Push Nation-Leading Unbeaten Streak To 10 Games With Road Victory

Highlights
Post Game: Cencer

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally sixth-ranked Ferris State University men's ice hockey team took its nation-leading unbeaten streak on the road and stretched it to 10-straight contests with an impressive 4-1 triumph over the Northern Michigan Wildcats on Friday (Nov. 29) evening in Marquette, Mich.

The Bulldogs, who maintained their first-place lead in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) standings, seized control with two first-period goals en route to the convincing win in the weekend series' opener at the Berry Events Center.

Ferris State remained unbeaten in its debut season in the WCHA as the Bulldogs improved to 11-2-1 overall and 8-0-1 in league action. FSU is unbeaten over its last 10 contests with a 9-0-1 mark.

The contest marked the first of eight-straight games away from home for Ferris State.

Ferris State came away with the victory in an intense and competitive game as the Bulldogs scored twice in the first frame and held a 4-0 lead until NMU scored its lone goal of the night in the final seconds.

The Bulldogs struck first at 11:41 of the opening period when sophomore forward Matt Robertson tallied his fifth goal of the campaign as he jammed in a shot in front of the net. Freshman Chad McDonald notched his sixth assist of the year on the initial goal of the evening.

FSU added a second goal in the opening stanza a little more than five minutes later at 16:54 when sophomore defenseman Zach Dorer scored his second marker of the year on a shot from the point that bounced in off the post. Both freshman forward Kyle Schempp and senior center Cory Kane picked up their fifth helpers each on the goal.

In the second period, the two teams combined for 10 penalties as the action went back and forth. However, Schempp stretched the FSU advantage to three goals late in the period with a power-play goal for the Bulldogs at 16:25 of the second frame. His sixth goal of the season came on a tip-in in front of the net and was assisted by senior forward Garrett Thompson and junior defenseman Jason Binkley, who recorded their 10th and ninth assists of the year, respectively.

The Bulldogs added an early third period goal to push the advantage to 4-0 when sophomore defenseman Brandon Anselmini scored his first goal of the campaign only 1:33 into the final period. He rifled in a shot on yet another Bulldog power play with Robertson notching his second point of the night on his first assist of the season.

Northern Michigan scored its only goal of the night with 11 seconds left in the contest as Cohen Adair capitalized on a power-play opportunity with assists credited to Sami Salminen and Luke Eibler.

That was as close as NMU could come, though, as Bulldog junior goaltender CJ Motte shut the door most of the night. He finished with 32 saves in the contest in pushing his nation-leading and unbeaten winning mark in net to 11-0-1 on the year.

Meanwhile, NMU's Mathias Dahlstrom fell to 5-4-1 on the year by allowing four goals and making 17 saves in 41:33 of action. Derek Dun came on in relief and made eight saves in the final 18:27 of action for the Wildcats.

NMU held a 33-29 edge in total shots for the night, but FSU finished two-of-seven on the power play with the Wildcats converting once in four tries.

Northern Michigan was whistled for 10 penalties totaling 31 minutes with the Bulldogs called seven times for 25 minutes in the box.

With the loss, the Wildcats fell to 6-6-1 overall and 4-3-0 in league action.

This year marks the fourth consecutive season in which the Bulldogs have traveled to Marquette to face the Wildcats on the Olympic ice sheet at the Berry Events Center. FSU has recorded three wins in a tie over the last five matchups versus NMU in Marquette dating back to the 2011-12 campaign.

The two teams will square off again on Saturday (Nov. 30) night in the series' finale starting at 7:07 p.m. (ET). The contest can be heard live on Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network at FerrisStateBulldogs.com starting with pregame coverage at 6:30 p.m.