Ferris State Nearly Completes Big Comeback In Season-Opening Setback To #18 Western Michigan

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team scored three-straight goals, but fell just short in completing the comeback in a 4-3 loss to the nationally 18th-ranked Western Michigan Broncos on Friday (Oct. 12) evening in the regular-season opener inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Sophomore forward Coale Norris scored twice for the Bulldogs while senior forward Corey Mackin picked up a pair of assists in the contest.

The Broncos charged ahead to a 4-0 lead, scoring at 1:49 of the first when Dawson DiPietro netted his first lamplighter of the year, giving WMU a 1-0 lead. Then, at 5:55, Jade McMullen tallied, followed by Hugh McGing at 10:03. The Broncos finished their goal scoring at 11:23 of the opening frame when Cam Lee scored for WMU.

Ferris State got on the board with 15 seconds to play in the opening period to cut the Bronco lead to 4-1 when Norris found a great pass from Mackin on the doorstep and lifted one past WMU netminder Austin Cain. Junior forward Oskar Andren also added an assist on the goal.

Later on, at 5:04 of the third, the Bulldogs cut the Bronco lead to two goals when sophomore forward Frankie Melton picked up his first collegiate goal. Senior forward Trevor Recktenwald and junior defenseman Zach Yoder each picked up their first assists of the season on Melton's goal.

Ferris State managed to get within one when Norris cashed in for his second of the night at 12:56 when he crashed the net and directed it into the top right corner past Cain. Andren and Mackin each grabbed their second assists of the game and season on the goal.

Despite a late flurry, the Bulldogs couldn't crack the Western Michigan defense a fourth time as the clock drained out.

The Broncos led in shots 41-23, though the margin only favored the Broncos 22-18 in the final 40 minutes of play.

In goal, Ferris State junior goaltender Justin Kapelmaster took the loss despite making 37 saves in the contest.

Ferris State heads to Kalamazoo to take on the Broncos in the series finale on Saturday (Oct. 13) evening with puck drop set for 7 p.m. (ET) at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo as the two teams finish the home and home non-conference series.