Key Goals Pace Wisconsin Past Bulldogs In Non-League Weekend Finale

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey squad wrapped up a two-game non-league road set at Wisconsin with a 5-3 setback to the Badgers in the weekend finale on Saturday (Nov. 29) night at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.

The Badgers scored a pair of key second-period goals to rally back from a 2-1 deficit and then scored the eventual game-winner early in the third period before holding off the Bulldogs down the stretch for the win.

The FSU loss came on the heels of a 1-1 overtime deadlock between the two teams on Friday night in the weekend opener.

Ferris State opened the scoring in Saturday's finale with the first goal of the night only 3:54 into play on sophomore forward Chad McDonald's eighth marker of the year. His 4-on-4 goal was assisted by junior Matt Robertson and senior Simon Denis, who notched their 11th and second assists of the campaign, respectively.

The Badgers tied the contest up at a goal apiece when Grant Besse picked up his second goal of the year at 12:25 of the first frame. Both Tim Davison and Jake Linhart were credited with assists and the 1-1 score stood up the remainder of the opening frame.

FSU grabbed a 2-1 lead only 7:22 into the middle frame on freshman defenseman Austin Kosack's first collegiate goal before the Badgers answered back less than a minute later when Corbin McGuire tallied his first lamplighter of the year at 7:59 of the second. Kosack's Bulldog goal was assisted by sophomore Gerald Mayhew and junior Brandon Anselmini while both Matt Ustaski and Linhart had helpers on the Wisconsin goal.

The Badgers grabbed a 3-2 lead at 18:16 of the second period when Matt Paape found the back of the net for his first goal of the year. It was assisted by Morgan Zulinick and Aidan Cavallini.

However, Ferris State tied the game back up only 2:09 into the third period when freshman Tyler Andrew scored for the second time this season. Senior Dominic Panetta and Denis both recorded assists on the tying goal.

The eventual game-winner, though, came from Wisconsin's Jack Dougherty at 5:29 of the third off assists from Brad Navin and Joseph LaBate. It was his first goal this year and came on the power play.

Wisconsin eventually added an empty-net goal from Besse at 18:42 of the third to account for the final margin.

Ferris State suffered the loss despite owning a 33-26 edge in total shots, which included 13 in the first period, 11 in the second and nine in the third. The Badgers totaled 12 shots in period one, eight in the second and six over the final 20 minutes of action.

FSU finished 0-of-4 on the power play while the Badgers were 1-of-4 for the night. Overall, FSU was called for six penalties totaling 23 minutes with Wisconsin totaling seven penalties for 14 minutes on the night.

Bulldog senior goaltender CJ Motte totaled 21 saves in the losing effort for the Bulldogs and Wisconsin's Joel Rumpel made 30 saves in the victory for UW.

Ferris State, which is now 7-7-1 overall to date this season, will have next week off as the Bulldogs will not return to action until Dec. 12-13 when they host Lake Superior State in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play at the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Both games get underway at 7:07 p.m. (ET) for FSU's final series prior to the semester break.

Tickets for all home contests are currently on sale and can be purchased in advance at StarTickets.com, by calling 1-800-585-3737 or in person thru the FSU Athletics Ticket Office. For more information, please visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com or call 231-591-2888.