Bulldogs Cap Weekend Sweep With High-Scoring Victory Over Lakers

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team put up their largest offensive output of the season en route to a 7-5 victoryon Saturday night (Nov. 19) to complete a weekend sweep in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) series with the Lake Superior State Lakers at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Senior forward Gerald Mayhew netted his fourth game-winning goal of the year for Ferris State as the senior had both winners in the weekend set. Sophomore forward Corey Mackin had two goals in the winning effort as well for Ferris State.

The Bulldogs scored first, as freshman defenseman Nate Kallen tallied his first collegiate goal, shorthanded and unassisted on a two-on-one breakaway. Kallen fired a shot into the top corner over Laker goaltender Nick Kossof's blocker hand to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the first period.

LSSU's Luke Morgan evened the game at 1-1 at 6:26 of the first, unassisted.

The tie lasted only eight seconds as FSU senior forward Chad McDonald scored off a breakaway that came off the ensuing faceoff. The goal was McDonald's third of the year, from junior forward Tyler Andrew and junior defensemen Tyler Dorantes.

The Lakers responded with back-to-back power play goals to take a 3-2 lead. Diego Cuglietta scored at 12:57 of the first from Kris Bindulis and Owen Headrick, and Collin Saccoman scored from J.T. Henke and Max Humitz.

Ferris State sophomore defenseman Zac Tierney evened the contest at 3-3 with his first collegiate goal, rifling a slap shot that skipped off of a Laker and past Kossoff at 17:19 of the first. Junior forward Mitch Maloney and Mayhew both earned assists on Tierney's goal.

Lake Superior State's Mitch Hults gave the Lakers their second lead of the night on a shorthanded breakaway at 5:42 of the second period. Gage Torrel and Kyle Chatham both earned assists on Hults' fifth goal of the year.

The Bulldogs reeled off the next three goals to take a 6-4 lead. Senior forward Jared VanWormer started the flurry when he knotted the game up at 4-4 with his third goal of the year, as the Bulldogs only trailed for 45 seconds following the Hults goal. Freshman defenseman Cameron Clarke took a shot that deflected of of VanWormer's stick past Kossof on the power play.

Ferris State took its first of two two-goal leads when Corey Mackin scored on the breakaway at 8:57 of the second period to end Kossoff's night. Junior forward Andrew Dorantes and freshman goaltender Justin Kapelmaster earned assists on the goal. It was Kapelmaster's second assist in as many games.

Mayhew then scored the game-winning goal at 3:54 of the third period from redshirt freshman forward Craig Pefley and Maloney. Pefley dropped a pass to Maloney, who fired a shot on net. LSSU goaltender Gordon Defiel kicked the rebound up in the air and Mayhew batted it home for his ninth goal of the year.

The Lakers scored another power play goal, this time at 8:17 of the third when Max Humitz scored from J.T. Henke and Kris Bindulis to cut the Bulldog lead to 6-5.

Ferris State iced the game when Mackin scored his second of the night and fifth of the season on an empty netter. Andrew Dorantes earned his second helper of the game.

Kapelmaster made 33 saves in the victory for Ferris State to improve his record to 5-0-0 on the season. Kossoff fell to 0-2-0 on the season, making 13 stops on 18 shots. Defiel made 12 saves on 13 shots in relief of Kossoff.

The Lakers finished 3-6 on the power play, with the Bulldogs going 1-5. The Lakers outshot the Bulldogs 38-32 on the evening. A total of 14 different Bulldogs recorded at least a point in the victory. Senior defenseman Ryan Lowney and junior defensman Tyler Dorantes each finished a game-high +4 on the evening for Ferris State.

With the win, Ferris State improved to 4-5-1 in the WCHA and moved up three spots in the WCHA standings over the weekend.

The Bulldogs have a weekend off, and will next play on Dec. 3 at Alabama-Huntsville starting at 8:07 p.m. (ET) in a Saturday-Sunday series with the Chargers.