Ferris State Hockey Suffers 3-2 Setback Against Lindenwood in Weekend Series Finale

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Lindenwood University Friday (Nov. 1), concluding the first ever series against the Lions in the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (1-7-0, 0-2-0 CCHA) will return to league play next weekend when Augustana comes to Big Rapids after this weekend in non-conference play against the Lions. Sophomore goaltender Martin Lundberg drew another start Saturday, stopping a career-high 30 shots in the defeat.

Trevor Taulien was whistled for direct contact to the head and a game misconduct at 5:05 in the first period, sending Lindenwood to a five-minute power play and forcing FSU to skate with only five defensemen the rest of the game. The Bulldogs killed the first four minutes off, but the Lions were able to strike at 9:19 with a goal from Louis-Philippe Fontaine. Drew Kuzma and Charles Savoie assisted as the Lions took an advantage into the intermission.

Max Itagaki scored his first goal of the year on the power play at 5:47 in the second period to tie the game for FSU. John Lundy skated through the right-wing circle and passed to Xavier Jean-Louis at the point. He took a shot that LU goaltender Liam Beerman saved, but Itagaki was backside for the rebound and lit the lamp with a follow-up shot. Lundy got his second helper this year while Jean-Louis collected his team-leading fourth assist.

LU scored twice in the final 7:30 of period two, with the first coming from Anselmo Rego at 12:30. His first collegiate point put the Lions up 2-1 and came from Jacob Fletcher. Charles Savoie scored a breakaway goal at 17:27 for his third of the season. Tyler Loughman assisted as the Lions took a two-goal lead.

Christopher Lie took a boarding penalty with 30 seconds remaining in the period, and the Bulldogs began period three on the kill. At 0:49, Riley Wallack converted FSU's first short-handed goal of the season. Jean-Louis cleared the zone with a pass to Gavin Best at center ice who then passed to Wallack racing down the left wall. Wallack skated into the circle and fired a shot past Beerman to pull the Bulldogs back within one goal. Best earned his first assist of the year and Jean-Louis tacked on his fifth, giving him his first multi-point game as a Bulldog.

FSU pulled Lundberg for the extra attacker at 18:13 but was unable to find the equalizing goal and ultimately suffered a defeat. Lindenwood completed the weekend sweep, and the Bulldogs have now lost five in a row. 

Jean-Louis and Savoie each finished with multi-point performances. Lundberg finished the game 30-33 (.909) on save tries, while Beerman was 24-26 (.923) and earned his second win of the weekend. Valtteri Piironen and Connor McGrath each blocked two shots while Wallack, Itagaki and Carter Rapalje tied for the team lead with four shots on goal apiece. Wallack had a game-high 13 faceoff wins.

As a team, FSU was 1-4 on the power play, 3-4 on the penalty kill, had 26 shots on goal, blocked eight shots and won 29 faceoffs. The Lions had 33 shots on goal, blocked 12 shots and won 33 faceoffs.

Ferris State will be at home again next weekend to face Augustana as CCHA play resumes. Friday's (Nov. 7) game time is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 6:30 p.m. (ET). The game will be available on video stream through Midco Sports Plus.