Bulldog Hockey Pulls Out Dramatic Victory In 8-Round Shootout Against #12 Western Michigan

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview - Coach Daniels 
Postgame Interview - Logan Stein 
Postgame Interview - Luigi Benincasa 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team earned an impressive shootout victory over the #12-ranked Western Michigan Broncos in Ewigleben Ice Arena on Friday (Oct. 13).

After falling to the Broncos Thursday at Lawson Ice Arena, the Bulldogs (1-2-1) responded in a big way Friday. The score was 3-3 at the end of overtime, forcing the first shootout of the year for Ferris State. Eight rounds later, and Luigi Benincasa tallied the winning goal for the Bulldogs.

Western attempted 48 shots Thursday and the Bulldog defense held them to 30 on Friday. Logan Stein started his first game of the year for FSU and made 27 saves. 

The Bulldogs got off to a fast start, with a 2-0 lead going into the second period. Tyler Schleppe recorded his first goal of the year at 11:55. Jacob Dirks drove into the corner and found Schleppe as the trail man. Schleppe fired from the slot to beat WMU's starting goaltender Cameron Rowe and gave FSU a 1-0 lead.

With 1:50 to play in the first period, both teams had penalties and 4-on-4 play ensued. Kaleb Ergang notched his second goal of the young season with one second left on the clock. Schleppe fired a pass to Jack Mesic behind the net, who touched a pass to Ergang on the backside. Ergang fired in the goal, and FSU led 2-0.

To start the second period, Western Michigan came out aggressively. They got on the board just 18 seconds in with Ethan Phillips getting his fourth goal in his second game. Then, at 5:32, the Broncos scored on the power play. Sam Colangelo tallied his first goal of the year. 

WMU got its third goal of the period on another power play at 14:54 courtesy of Dylan Wendt. They led 3-2 going into the third period.

Jason Brancheau evened the score at 8:31 in the third period with his second goal of the year. Schleppe and Shoudy assisted Brancheau's power play goal. Neither team scored again in regulation, so the Bulldogs headed to overtime for the second time in four games.

Rowe shut the door in overtime as FSU sent five shots on target, but Rowe did not concede. Stein was tested just once in overtime. 

In the first shootout of the year for both squads, the first two shooters scored for each team. Carter Berger and Phillips tallied goals for WMU while Stepan Pokorny and Brancheau had the first two for FSU. 

Stein turned the next two Bronco shooters away, but Connor McGrath and Schleppe could not win it for FSU. In the fifth round, Joe Cassetti scored for Western, but Antonio Venuto kept the Bulldogs alive with a goal.

Stein did not allow another goal in the shootout, turning the final three Bronco shooters away. Shoudy and Ergang both missed their chances in the sixth and seventh rounds, respectively, paving the way for Benincasa in the eighth round. 

The freshman drew out to his right before cutting back across the slot and placing a perfect backhand shot over the leg of Rowe. Benincasa's shot gave the Bulldogs a shootout victory.

Schleppe had a big night for the Bulldogs with a goal and two assists. Mesic recorded his second assist of the year, giving him points in three of his first four college hockey games. Brancheau and Ergang each scored their second goal of the year, and Shoudy collected his sixth helper through four games. 

The Bulldogs had 32 shots compared to 30 for Western Michigan. FSU went 1-5 on the power play and killed 1-3 Bronco chances.

FSU will be back in action inside Ewigleben Ice Arena on Friday, Oct. 20, against the Grand Valley State University club hockey team in exhibition action. Puck drop for the "Anchor-Bone On Ice" is set for 7:07 p.m. (ET).