Valiant Bulldog Hockey Comeback Results In Overtime Deadlock Against Wisconsin

Game Highlights
Press Conference

Big Rapids, Mich. - A valiant comeback from the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team in the final period resulted in an overtime deadlock as the Bulldogs tied the Wisconsin Badgers 5-5 in the series' opener on Friday night (Oct. 24) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs bolted out to a 1-0 lead after the opening period before Wisconsin scored four goals in the second period in its first-ever visit to Big Rapids to take a 4-2 lead heading into the final period.

In the third frame, though, Ferris State scored three goals to surge ahead 5-4, but Wisconsin netted the equalizer with only 19.2 seconds to play to send the game into overtime. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in OT as the game ended in a draw.

Ferris State jumped on the board first at 6:01 of the opening period when junior forward Gerald Mayhew tallied his first goal of the year at even-strength off an assist from junior captain Kyle Schempp. Mayhew came in with a wraparound and Wisconsin goaltender Matt Jurusik made the initial save before kicking it into his own net.

Wisconsin struck for its first goal only 1:53 into the second frame when Seamus Malone tallied his first goal of the year on a deflection that beat Ferris junior goalie Charles Williams. Kevin Schulze and Jake Linhart had the assists for Wisconsin.

Mayhew responded with his second tally of the night when freshman forward Corey Mackin made a dazzling dangle on the power play before setting up a wide open Mayhew to make it 2-1 Ferris State at 5:20 of the second period. Schempp also assisted on the play.

The Badgers roared back to life, and scored 82 seconds later when Jake Linhart scored on the power play from Cameron Hughes and Ryan Wagner. Grant Besse followed with a power wrap around move at 12:49 of the second period from Luke Kunin.

Will Johnson capped Wisconsin's four-goal second period with his first career collegiate goal 30 seconds later to make it 4-2 in favor of the Badgers. Adam Rockwood and Jason Ford assisted on the play.

Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels elected to switch goaltenders at the end of the second period, and freshman Darren Smith traded with Williams to open the final frame of regulation.

The Bulldogs answered the bell with a torrid third period. Senior forward Matt Robertson scored his first of the season on a pass from behind the net by Gerald Mayhew at 5:09 of the third period. Schempp added his fourth assist of the year on the play and third of the night, as Mayhew put up his third point of the evening.

Sophomore forward Tyler Andrew tied the game when he crashed the net and shoveled the puck past Jurusik at 10:09 of the third period. Sophomore forward Andrew Dorantes tallied an assist, with Mackin adding his second point of the night as well.

With 1:53 remaining in regulation, junior forward Chad McDonald came in alone on a breakaway and roofed a shot past Jurusik to make it 5-4 in favor of the Bulldogs. Junior forward Jared VanWormer and freshman defenseman Zac Tierney assisted on the McDonald goal that gave the Bulldogs a late lead.

The Badgers had fight left in them, and Tim Davison tied the contest at 5-5 when he scored from the blue line on a shot that Smith never got a beat on with 20 seconds to play in regulation. The game ended in a 5-5 tie after a scoreless overtime.

Ferris State finished 1-3 on the powerplay with Wisconsin going 2-5. The Bulldogs outshot the Badgers 32-28 over 65 minutes of play.

Smith took the tie, moving his record to 0-0-1 on the year, with Jurusik moving to 0-1-2 overall on the season.

The Bulldogs, now 1-2-2, are looking for their second victory of the season, and will have a shot tomorrow when they wrap up their series with the Badgers at 7:07 pm (ET) inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Tickets for Saturday's finale are still on sale and can be purchased thru the FSU Athletics Ticket Office, online at StarTickets.com or by calling 1-800-585-3737. The ticket office will open on Saturday at noon.

Ferris State will don new gold alternate uniforms for Saturday's weekend finale.