Bulldog Hockey Earns 5-3 Victory Over Bemidji State In Home CCHA Contest

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview - Coach Daniels 
Postgame Interview - Noah Giesbrecht 
Postgame Interview - Antonio Venuto 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team got back in the win column Saturday (Jan. 6) with a 5-3 victory over the Bemidji State University Beavers in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play in the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (6-14-1) earned a series split with the Beavers after a strong showing Saturday, which was fueled by their most goals in a game since a 5-2 victory over St. Thomas Dec. 1. Noah Giesbrecht had a strong performance between the pipes for Ferris State, turning away 21-of-24 shots he faced to earn his third win of the season.

Ferris State scored the game's first goal just 39 seconds into the first period. Nick Hale ripped a shot from the point that made its way through traffic and past Bemidji's starting netminder Mattias Sholl. Hale's second tally of the year came from Antonio Venuto and Luigi Benincasa and gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead.

Jason Brancheau increased FSU's lead to 2-0 at 5:23 with his eighth scoring strike of the year. Connor McGrath handled a rebound opportunity and passed it to Brancheau through the crease, where the latter chipped the puck in.

Bemidji State put its first goal on the board at 18:20 with a short-handed tally from Lleyton Roed, his 10th goal of the year and third point in the series. Tony Follmer assisted.

Next, at 10:42 in the second period, the Bulldogs scored their third goal, courtesy of Luigi Benincasa. He lit the lamp for the third time this year, tipping the puck past Sholl off a shot from the point by Jack Mesic. Mesic and Venuto each assisted.

Roed scored again at 15:07, this time five-on-five and with an assist to Will Magnuson. That brought the Beavers within one goal at 3-2, but Ferris State quickly regained a two-goal advantage. Trevor Taulien scored on an odd-man rush led by Benincasa and Venuto where Taulien took a pass from Benincasa in the slot for his second goal of the year. 

The Bulldogs struck first in the third period as well, increasing their lead to 5-2 with a power play tally from Tyler Schleppe. His third goal of the season came from Kaleb Ergang and Brenden MacLaren. MacLaren dropped a pass down low for Ergang, who spun and fired a backhanded pass across the crease to Schleppe who finished the play.

BSU's Jakub Lewandowski scored what proved to be the final goal of the night at 8:13, his first of the season. Eric Martin and Patrik Satosaari assisted, and Ferris State emerged victorious 5-3.

Venuto recorded three points in the contest, all helpers, giving him 20 points this year. Benincasa also had a three point night with a goal and two helpers.

Sholl made 33 saves on 38 shots faced in a losing effort for Bemidji. The Bulldogs outshot the Beavers 38-24, won 43 faceoffs compared to 25 for Bemidji, went 1-4 on the power play and killed all three of their penalties. With the win, Ferris State earned three points in the CCHA standings, bumping their season total to 11. 

Ferris State will be back in action Friday, Jan. 12, against Minnesota State in Mankato. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 7:30 p.m. (ET).