Posted: Feb 24, 2017
Ferris State Hockey Wins Third-Straight With Important League Road Victory
Ferris State
(13-17-4, 12-12-3WCHA)
6
Lake Superior State
(11-16-6, 8-13-6 WCHA)
4
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ferris State (13-17-4, 12-12-3WCHA) | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
|
Lake Superior State (11-16-6, 8-13-6 WCHA) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team won its third consecutive game, this time defeating the Lake Superior State Lakers 6-4 on Friday (Feb. 24) night at Taffy Abel Arena in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play.
Redshirt freshman forward Craig Pefley earned four points in the game, becoming the first Bulldog to do so since current senior forward Chad McDonald did on Nov. 13, 2014 against Alaska Anchorage. McDonald had two goals and an assist in the game and fellow senior forward Gerald Mayhew also netted two goals for Ferris State.
With the victory, Ferris State also remained tied with Bowling Green for fourth place in the WCHA and the final home-ice playoff spot heading into the final night of regular-season action.
With the victory, Ferris State also remained tied with Bowling Green for fourth place in the WCHA and the final home-ice playoff spot heading into the final night of regular-season action.
Mayhew got the Bulldogs on the board at 2:50 of the first period, stealing a puck and breaking unabated from the hash marks in for his 16th goal of the year. Sophomore defenseman Ryker Killins earned his fourth assist of the year on the goal.
The Lakers evened the game on Gage Torrel's first of the night from Aidan Wright and Gus Correale, on a shot that hit the cross bar and bounced off of FSU freshman goaltender Justin Kapelmaster and into the net.
Ferris State took a 2-1 lead on McDonald's first of the night and ninth of the season, when Pefley centered a pass to McDonald, who rifled it between the legs of LSSU goaltender Gordon Defiel. It was Pefley's 13th assist of the year, and freshman defenseman Cameron Clarke earned his ninth of the year on the goal as well.
LSSU's Kyle Chatham tied the game at 2-2, firing a shot that deflected awkwardly over Kapelmaster at 4:17 of the second period.
McDonald netted his second of the game and 10th of the year off of a faceoff win by Pefley at 1:08 of the third period, firing a high shot past the glove of Defiel. Pefley earned his 14th assist of the year and second of the night on the goal.
The Bulldogs scored their lone power play goal of the game for a 4-2 lead at 7:30 of the third period, when Pefley shot a puck up high after faking a pass for his fourth goal of the year. Clarke eanred his second assist of the game on the goal, while freshman defenseman Joe Rutkowksi earned his 17th of the year.
Lake Superior State's Diego Cuglietta and Gage Torrel scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at 10:07 and 15:53 respectively for a 4-4 score.
Bulldog senior defenseman Ryan Lowney would give Ferris State the lead for good at 17:53 of the third period for his second of the year and a 5-4 lead. McDonald earned his ninth assist of the year while Pefley earned his 15th assist of the season and third of the night.
Mayhew chipped in his 17th goal of the year on an empty net from Lowney at 19:19 of the third for the 6-4 final score. The assist was Lowney's 15th of the year.
For the game, Ferris State outshot Lake Superior State 46-30. The Bulldogs were 1-7 on the power play, while the Lakers were 1-4.
Kapelmaster made 26 saves in the win for Ferris State, while Defiel made 40 in the loss for Lake Superior State.
The win is Ferris State's third in a row and fifth in the last six contests.
Ferris State wraps up the regular season on Saturday (Feb. 25) at Taffy Abel Arena against Lake Superior State at 7:07 p.m. (ET).