Lakers Thwart Bulldog Comeback In Series Opener

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. - Despite a pair of third period goals, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team could not even the contest and fell 5-3 Friday (Feb. 11) to the Lake Superior State Lakers at Taffy Abel Arena in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play.

Ferris State freshman forward Kaleb Ergang and junior forward Dallas Tulik each registered two points in the effort for the Dawgs.

Early in the first period, the Dawgs jumped out front when Tulik picked up a rebound and ripped a shot top right for his seventh goal of the campaign at 5:09 of the opening frame and a 1-0 Bulldog lead. Ergang (4) and junior defenseman Blake Evennou (7) earned the assists on Tulik's goal.

The Lakers replied with a pair of late first period goals to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission when Louis Boudon scored at 17:57, followed by Logan Jenuwine at 19:38.9. Jenuwine's goal was initally reviewed after Ferris State freshman goaltender Noah Giesbrecht was run-through, but the goal stood upon review.

After a scoreless second, Ferris State evened the game at 1:17 of the third period when senior forward Marshall Moise scored his team-leading ninth goal of the year to knot the game at 2-2 on a scramble in front. Senior forward Ethan Stewart (6) and freshman forward Bradley Marek (8) picked up the hlepers on the goal.

The Lakers again scored twice to take a 4-2 lead - first at 4:39 when Josh Wildauer deflected in a shot from Arty Borshyov, followed by Harrison Roy's power play goal at 17:18 of the third.

Ferris State charged up the ice to make it a one-goal game 11 seconds later when sophomore forward Mitch Deelstra scored his third goal of the year at 17:29 to cut the Lakers' lead to a 4-3 score. Tulik (9) and Ergang (5) both notched their second points of the night on Deelstra's goal.

Lake Superior State responded with an empty netter at 18:44 when Jenuwine scored his second goal of the night for the 5-3 final.

Ferris State outshot the Lakers 28-23 in the game and 22-13 in the last 40 minutes of play. The Lakers went 1-4 on the man advantage while the Bulldogs were only awarded one power play and went 0-1. Giesbrecht took the loss on 18 saves for the Bulldogs while Seth Eisele picked up the win for LSSU on 25 stops.

The Bulldogs aim for the series split in the weekend finale on Saturday (Feb. 12) with puck drop set for 6:07 p.m. (ET) at Taffy Abel Arena.