Ferris State Picks Up Series-Opening Road Win As Motte Matches School All-Time Wins Mark

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Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - A pair of key second period goals helped lift the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team to a 3-1 victory over host Lake Superior State as the two Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) members opened up a two-game weekend set on Friday (March 6) night at Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.

The Bulldogs scored a big road win in the opening game of the final regular-season series to hold onto its hopes of potentially earning a first-round home playoff series pending results from other action in the WCHA on Friday night. FSU entered the weekend needing a sweep along with some help to host the first round of the WCHA Playoffs.

The Lakers struck first on Friday night as Stephen Perfetto scored his 10th lamplighter of the campaign only 3:10 into the contest to give LSSU the early lift. His goal was assisted by Gus Correale and Eric Drapluk, who both tallied their sixth assists of the season.

However, Ferris State answered 14 minutes into the initial period when sophomore forward Gerald Mayhew put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard with an even-strength goal off assists from freshman Andrew Dorantes and senior Dom Panetta. Mayhew's goal was his eighth of the season while Dorantes attained his second assist and Panetta picked up his third of the year.

The score stood knotted up at a goal apiece after the opening period, but FSU seized control in the second frame.

Freshman forward Zach Szajner tallied his first career marker for the eventual game-winner 8:10 into the middle stanza as he found the back of the net off assists from juniors Kenny Babinski and Brandon Anselmini, who totaled their fifth and seventh helpers of the year, respectively.

The Bulldogs then pushed their lead to two goals at 16:10 of the second with junior defenseman Simon Denis producing his third goal this campaign. Freshman Mitch Maloney tallied his third assist with Szajner recording his fourth helper this season and second point of the evening.

FSU tacked on an empty-net goal late as Mayhew registered his second marker of the evening and ninth of the year at 19:39 of the third. Panetta came up with his second assist on the final goal as FSU sealed the victory.

With the win in net, senior goaltender CJ Motte matched former All-America netminder Mike Brown's school career wins record by picking up his 63rd all-time triumph. He finished the night with 21 saves, including four in the first, nine in the second and eight in the final frame.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the ice, Gordon Defiel suffered the loss for LSSU with 30 saves on the evening. He totaled eight saves between the pipes in the opening 20 minutes of action followed by 12 in the middle period and 10 in the final frame.

Ferris State held a 34-22 edge in total shots for the night, which included a game-high 14 in the second stanza. The Bulldogs also put 11 shots on net in the final period.

The Bulldog penalty kill also proved up to the challenge on Friday evening as FSU stopped all six LSSU tries with the man-advantage. Ferris State had six penalties for 12 minutes with LSSU called five times for 10 minutes in the box. FSU went 0-of-4 on the power play.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 15-19-2 overall this season along with 12-14-1 in the WCHA. Lake Superior State dropped to 8-25-2 overall and 7-19-1 in conference action.

The win was FSU's eighth in a row against Lake Superior State and FSU is now 9-1-1 in the last 11 matchups against the Lakers over the past three years.

The Bulldogs and the Lakers will square off in the series' finale on Saturday (March 7) night with the puck drop set for 7:07 p.m. (ET) in Sault Ste. Marie. The game will follow the Bulldog men's basketball team's GLIAC Semifinal game versus Walsh on the LSSU campus and Saturday's tilt on the ice represents the final regular-season outing for both teams.