Ferris State Wins For Third Time In Four Games To Wrap-Up WCHA Homestand

Highlights 
Press Conference: Daniels

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey wrapped up a four-game homestand with a 5-2 victory over visiting Alabama Huntsville on Saturday (Nov. 22) evening at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids as FSU took six of a possible eight points in the two weekends of action.

Ferris State earned the weekend split against the upstart Chargers by scoring a pair of key third period goals to beat Alabama Huntsville in FSU's final home contest until mid-December.

As they did on Friday evening in the series' opener, the Chargers struck first and grabbed an early lead on a goal from Richard Buri only 2:29 into play. Both Chad Brears and Max McHugh picked up the assists.

However, Ferris State battled back and tied the contest up at a goal apiece when sophomore forward Chad McDonald registered a short-handed lamplighter for his sixth goal of the campaign at 12:26 of the first period off assists from junior forward Matt Robertson and defenseman Ryan Lowney.

The Bulldogs grabbed their first lead of the night midway thru the second period when sophomore forward Kyle Schempp picked up his third goal of the season off assists from Robertson and McDonald as each came up with their second points of the evening.

UAH, though, came back to knot the score at two goals apiece after two periods on the strength of a marker from Jeff Vanderlugt at 15:38 of the middle frame. Frank Misuraca and Brennan Saulnier picked up the helpers.

Ferris State then started quickly in the final period as McDonald tallied his second goal of the evening and seventh of the season by scoring his third point of the evening for the eventual game-winner. Robertson also recorded his third assist of the night on the goal.

Less than four minutes later, Bulldog sophomore forward Jared VanWormer scored on the power play with assists credited to both fellow sophomore Gerald Mayhew and junior defenseman Simon Denis on the goal in front of the net. It was VanWormer's third goal of the year.

FSU added an empty-net goal from junior forward Kenny Babinski at 19:01 of the final period to account for the final margin. He picked up his second goal of the season off assists from Robertson and defenseman Brandon Anselmini.

Bulldog senior goaltender CJ Motte earned the victory in net for Ferris State by making 28 saves in the triumph. Meanwhile, Carmine Guerriero suffered the loss with 30 saves as FSU held a slim 35-30 advantage in total shots.

Ferris State finished one-of-nine on the power play as Alabama Huntsville was called for 11 penalties totaling 36 minutes in the box. FSU was whistled seven times for 25 minutes and the Chargers were unable to score on their two power plays of the night.

McDonald ended up with the game's first star for the Bulldogs after totaling three points, including the game-winner, while Robertson was the second star on the strength of four points and Binkley claimed the third.

Ferris State is back in action over the Thanksgiving holiday as the Bulldogs venture to Wisconsin to face the Badgers on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 28-29) nights in Madison. The action gets underway on Friday night with the opener starting at 8:07 p.m. (ET). The finale on Saturday begins at 9:07 p.m. (ET) and all the action can be heard live on local flagship station Sunny 97.3 FM and the Bulldog Sports Network.

The next home action for the Bulldogs is on Dec. 12-13 when FSU entertains Lake Superior State at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Tickets for all home games are on sale now and can be purchased online at StarTickets.com, by calling 1-800-585-3737 1-800-585-3737 or in person thru the FSU Athletics Ticket Office located inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex.