Bulldogs Grind Past Lakers, Move Into 4th Place in WCHA

Video Highlights
Postgame Press Conference

Big Rapids, Mich. -- The Ferris State Bulldogs honored retiring athletics equipment manager Ben Mumah before the game and followed with a 3-1 victory over the Lake Superior State Lakers to move into fourth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings with one game to play on Friday (March 4) night at Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs dominated the Lakers in total shots, firing a season-high 52 on net, including 16 shots spread over four power plays.

Ferris State got out to a 1-0 lead after a scoreless first when senior forward Matt Robertson netted his seventh goal of the season. Junior forward Gerald Mayhew tallied his career high 20th assist of the year, while freshman defenseman Ryker Killins snagged his first collegiate assist at 4:00 of the second period.

Killins kept a clearing attempt in the Laker zone and backhanded a pass down the wall to Mayhew. Mayhew worked his pass to the faceoff dot to the left of LSSU goaltender Gordon Defiel, where Robertson outwaited the netminder before firing it by him, top shelf.

The Lakers tied the game at 7:14 of the second period when Anthony Nellis scored his fourth of the season from Mitch Hults and J.T. Henke. Hults threw a pass across the top of the Ferris State goalmouth and Nellis fired it through the legs of freshman goaltender Darren Smith to even the score at 1-1. 

Lake Superior State marched to the box at 10:17 and 12:11 of the second period, and the near four minutes of power play time eventually paid dividends for the Bulldogs.

Sophomore forward Andrew Dorantes potted his career-high eighth goal of the season. Senior defenseman Brandon Anselmini tacked on his 14th assist of the year, while sophomore forward Andrew Mayer was credited with his career-best eighth helper of the season.

Dorantes found the puck after a broken play on the power play just inside the Laker blue line and ripped a shot past Defiel cleanly to the glove side at 13:52 of the second to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead after two.

Mayhew marked his second point of the night when he scored his team-best 11th goal of the season into an empty net at 19:30 of the third period unassisted.

With his two points, Mayhew passed the 30-point mark in a season for the first time in his collegiate career and now leads Ferris State with 31 points this year. 

In between the pipes, Smith improved to 12-8-5 on the season as he made 21 saves on 22 shots for Ferris State. Defiel fell to 9-12-4 for Lake Superior State despite a strong outing, making 49 saves on 51 shots faced. 

The victory boosts Ferris State into fourth in the WCHA with 30 points, one ahead of the Northern Michigan Wildcats. The top four teams in the WCHA host a first round playoff series from March 11-13.

Prior to the regular season finale on March 5, the Bulldogs will celebrate their highly decorated senior class with senior night festivities. Brandon Anselmini, Kenny Babinski, Zach Dorer, Simon Denis, Ruben Medrano, Sean O'Rourke and Matt Robertson will all be honored in a special ceremony before the game. 

Ferris State will next be in action on Saturday (March 5) to wrap up the 2015-16 regular season against the Lakers at 7:07 pm ET. Tickets are on sale now at StarTickets.com or call 231-591-2888 for more information.