KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Freshman center Travis Paeth scored his first career goal, but the Western Michigan men's hockey team fell to Ferris State, 3-2, in front of 2,495 fans on Saturday night at Lawson Ice Arena.

Ferris State (7-6-1, 6-4-0 CCHA) took the lead just 7:44 into the game when Brendan Connolly, on a pass from Evan Case, beat Riley Gill on his stick side to put the Bulldogs up, 1-0. Cody Chupp also picked up an assist on the Bulldog goal. Ferris fired off 12 shots in the first period, but WMU (4-10-0, 2-8-0) was only able to manage four.

At 12:26 in the second period FSU pushed their lead to two when Justin Lewandowski stole the puck from a Bronco defender and put the puck in the net for his fifth goal on the season. Western Michigan would answer on the power play when junior winger Dave Krisky made a long pass to sophomore Cam Watson at the blue line. Watson was immediately one-on-one with FSU goalie Pat Nagle and beat him glove side for his team leading sixth goal of the season to keep the Broncos within one, 2-1. Krisky picked up his fifth assist on the season on the goal by Watson.

Ferris added their third and final goal of the night when Justin Menke fired a puck on net, but Gill was able to make the save. He was unable to control the rebound and Zach Redmond put the puck in the net to put the Bulldogs up 3-2.

WMU once again drew within one goal, 3-2, when Ansell passed the puck off the boards and Paeth took it at the blue line for a break away, beating Nagle on his stick side for his first collegiate goal. Ansell earned his second assist on the season for the Broncos and Mike Lesperance also added an assist on the goal, but the Broncos were unable to rally and push the game into overtime.

"That was a tremendous effort in the third period. We had some opportunities there to try and tie the game and unfortunately and disapointingly we dont. I felt the effort was outstanding in the third period," head coach Jim Culhane said.

Gill finished the game with 34 saves while Nagle finished with 17.

The Broncos will host Wayne State in non-conference action on Dec. 7-8, with both games slated for 7:35 p.m. starts.