Best Scores First Collegiate Goal and Ferris State Converts Two Power Plays as Bulldogs Fall 5-4 to Bowling Green

Bowling Green, Ohio – Junior forward Gavin Best scored his first collegiate goal Saturday (Nov. 2) during the Ferris State University men's ice hockey team's 5-4 loss to the Bowling Green State University Falcons in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play at the Slater Family Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (2-6-2, 1-3 CCHA) had goals from four different skaters, including three who scored their first of the season. Jacob Badal, Zach Faremouth and Best all scored for the first time this year, with Badal and Faremouth recording Ferris State's first and second power play goals of the year.

Caiden Gault was the other Bulldog goal scorer, tallying his team-leading fifth goal, which is also tied for most in the CCHA.

Gault scored the first goal of the night at 2:56 in the first period. Holden Doell fired a pass from the corner in front of the net where it was tipped by Max Itagaki back to Gault for the goal. Gault's goal gave FSU an early lead, while Itagaki collected his fifth helper of the season and Doell got his second.

BGSU tied the game with a power play goal from Brody Waters at 15:06. Matvei Kabanov assisted, giving him a point in back-to-back games against Ferris State.

The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead early in the second period with their first power play goal of the year. Badal scored his second career goal and first career power play goal at 7:29, putting the Bulldogs back on top 2-1. Nick Nardecchia and Trevor Taulien registered assists.

Gustav Stjernberg tied the game once more for BGSU with an unassisted power play goal at 10:47. Just two minutes later, Faremouth scored for Ferris State on a power play and again gave FSU a one-goal lead. Nardecchia fired a pass to Taulien at the point, who slapped a shot through traffic that Faremouth tipped past BGSU goaltender Cole Moore. Faremouth's first goal of the year gave FSU a 3-2 advantage with both Nardecchia and Taulien again registering assists.

Bowling Green had another answer, this time with Waters' second power play goal of the evening. At 14:15, he tied the game for the third time, and Dalton Norris and Breck McKinley collected assists.

Waters completed the hat trick at 16:16 with another power play conversion, giving BGSU its first lead. Norris again assisted, and Ryan O'Hara also had a helper.

Best answered back with nine seconds remaining in the period. Cole Burtch sent a pass to Best who then worked through the right-wing circle and fired a shot into the back of the net for his first career goal. Burtch collected his second assist of the year, and the game was tied 4-4 going into period three.

BGSU scored the game winning goal at 10:07 in the third. Jackson Niedermayer recorded his first goal as a Falcon with an unassisted game-winner. He fired multiple shots on net that were saved by FSU goaltender Noah West, but he eventually finished a rebound chance to give BGSU a late lead.

FSU pulled West late in the game for an extra attacker, and Tommy Pasanen took a cross-checking penalty with 54 seconds remaining, giving Ferris State a six-on-four advantage with the extra attacker on. The Bulldogs were unable to find the back of the net and BGSU completed the weekend sweep.

Nardecchia and Taulien had multiple-point efforts for Ferris State in the loss. It was Nardecchia's first career multi-assist game, while Taulien had his second multi-point outing of the year.

West made 38 saves on 43 shots faced for a save percentage of .884. Moore finished the game with 28 saves on 32 shots faced, good for an .875 save percentage.

Gault led the Bulldogs with five shots on goal while Faremouth and Taulien each registered four. Taulien also blocked two shots.

Travis Shoudy and Nico DeVita each finished the game +2. Both Doell and Faremouth won 11 faceoffs, and Matt Corbet, Burtch and Gault were each penalized twice.

As a team, the Bulldogs converted 2-6 power play opportunities and won 33 faceoffs. BGSU had 39 faceoff wins and went 4-7 on their power play tries.

Ferris State will return home for two games against Michigan Tech next weekend beginning Friday (Nov. 8) at 7:07 p.m. (ET) in the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Saturday's (Nov. 9) game is also slated for a 7:07 p.m. (ET) puck drop. Pregame coverage will begin both nights at 6:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunny 97.3 FM and the games will be streamed on Midco Sports Plus.