Ferris State Hockey Splits Against #1 Western Michigan as Friday Comeback Falls Short

Postgame Interview 
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Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team scored two goals late in the third period amidst a comeback effort against the top-ranked Broncos of Western Michigan University but ultimately fell short Friday (Oct. 10).

The Bulldogs (1-3-0) topped the Broncos Thursday (Oct. 9) 3-2 at Lawson Ice Arena, but the Broncos responded with a 6-4 victory Friday in the Ewigleben Ice Arena. Gavin Best scored twice on Friday and capped off a three-goal series.

The Broncos built a 6-2 lead by the end of the second period, putting FSU in comeback mode for the third. Noah Rupprecht was the starting goaltender for Ferris State, making 23 saves in 40 minutes of play.

Zack Sharp scored the lone goal in the first period to give WMU a 1-0 lead at 7:22. Grant Slukynsky assisted, and the Bulldogs headed into the intermission down a goal.

In period two, WMU scored three unanswered goals to take a 4-0 lead. First, Zaccharya Wisdom tallied his first scoring strike as a Bronco 56 seconds into the period with Owen Michaels collecting an assist. At 3:19, William Whitelaw scored an unassisted goal to put WMU up 3-0.

Zach Nehring scored the Broncos' first power play goal of the weekend at 3:55. Grant Slukynsky and Samuel Sjolund gathered the assists.

FSU got on the board at 12:22 courtesy of Josh Zary's third goal this year. Xavier Jean-Louis passed from the left point to Logan Heroux at the right point, who took a shot that WMU goaltender Hampton Slukynsky knocked down. Zary was right there and followed up the rebound for the goal. Jean-Louis and Heroux each collected their second assists.

WMU answered with a goal from Sam Huck at 14:58. Joona Vaisanen and Wisdom assisted as the Broncos reclaimed a four-goal lead at 5-1.

At 15:15, Best scored his first of the game and second of the weekend. Tyler Schleppe won a puck battle in the right corner and fired a pass to Best in the low slot who beat Hampton Slukynsky for the Bulldogs' second goal. Schleppe got his first point this year with an assist.

WMU struck with five seconds left in the period on a power play from Michaels. Vaisanen and Whitelaw assisted and the Broncos took a 6-2 lead into the third.

Martin Lundberg replaced Rupprecht before the third period in goal for FSU, and he went on to save all 15 shots he faced.

The Bulldogs got a goal from Best at 15:45. Jean-Louis started an odd man rush with a pass up to Caden Brown. Brown found Carter Rapalje who then ripped a pass to Best for the shot and score as the Bulldogs executed a three-on-two rush. Rapalje got his first assist this year and Brown registered his first point as a Bulldog.

At 19:03, Holden Doell lit the lamp for the first time this season. Jack Mesic cleared the Bulldog zone with a pass up the left wall to Zary. Zary redirected the pass to Doell driving into the slot who tipped the pass up and over Hampton Slukynsky for the goal. Zary recorded his first multi-point game as a Bulldog with an assist while Mesic tallied his second helper of the season.

FSU was unable to complete the comeback and fell 6-4, splitting the series with the Broncos.

For the game, FSU had 18 shots on goal, 29 faceoff wins, blocked 18 shots, went 0-3 on the power play and 4-6 on the penalty kill. WMU had 44 shots on goal, 37 faceoff wins and five blocked shots.

Christopher Lie had a game-high five blocked shots while Jean-Louis and Schleppe each had two. Best led the team with three shots on goal while both he and Zary finished the game +2.

Rupprecht finished with 26 saves in 40:00 minutes and took the loss. Lundberg played the final 20:00 minutes and made 15 saves.

The Bulldogs have an exhibition series next weekend in Plymouth beginning Friday (Oct. 17) against Simon Fraser. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. (ET) with coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 2:30 p.m. (ET).