BOX SCORE
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- Western Michigan men's hockey team tied Ferris State, 3-3, in front of 1,525 fans at Ewigleben Ice Arena on Saturday night.
Western Michigan battled back from a 3-2 Ferris State lead, to tie the game 8:04 into the third period. During its second power play of the period, Nathan Ansell fired a shot from the middle of the blue-line and it deflected off of freshman center Max Campbell and right between FSU goalie Mitch O'Keefe's legs for Campbell's fifth goal of the season. Campbell now has a goal in two consecutive games. Ansell and Patrick Nagorsen picked up assists on the goal, Ansell picked up his fifth on the season and Nagorsen earned his first collegiate assist. The Broncos were unable to add another goal and the teams headed into overtime.
In the overtime period, WMU had a scoring chance late by freshman Adam Flink. Flink made a diving shot from just in front of the net but O'Keefe was able to make the save. On the ensuing faceoff defenseman Tyler Ludwig fired a shot from the blue-line but the save was made by O'Keefe. Ferris State had a chance on a shot by Justin Menke but WMU goaltender Riley Gill made a glove save. Gill stopped 35 shots on the night and his FSU counterpart stopped 27. Neither team was able to capitalize, but each earn a point in the standings with the tie.
Ferris State drew first blood 5:22 into the first period on a slap shot from the right point by Scott Wietecha. Gill made the intial save but was unable to control the rebound. The rebound was scooped up and put into the net by Mike Fillinger and beat an out-stretched Gill to put the Bulldogs up, 1-0. Ferris State center Adam Miller picked up his 11th assist on the season and Wietecha earned his fourth helper on the season.
Western Michigan tied the game up, 1-1, when a charging Jeff Pierce intercepted an errant Ferris State pass and split two defenders, going to his backhand to beat O'Keefe on his glove side. The unassisted goal was the fourth on the season for Pierce.
The Broncos pushed ahead late in the first period on a power-play. Pierce got the puck on the left point from Patrick Galivan and fired a wrister, beating O'Keefe on his glove side again. The goal was Pierce's second on the night and fifth on the season and Galivan added his team-leading 18th assist on the season. WMU's Campbell also picked up his 11th assist on the season. Western Michigan was out-shot 14-to-6 in the first period but the Broncos killed two FSU power plays and held them to just four shots during the man advantages.
Ferris state tied up the game, 2-2, during a Bronco power play with 12:51 remaining in the second period. Casey Haines intercepted a Bronco pass and sent the puck ahead to Brendan Connolly, who was all alone and beat Gill on his stick side. The short-handed goal was the 10th goal on the season for Connolly and Haines picked up his fourth assist on the season. Alex Spezia also picked up an assist on the short-handed goal.
The Broncos found themselves two men down for 1:21 midway through the second period. Ferris State was able to capitalize during the five-on-three with a goal by Justin Menke. Menke's fourth goal on the season put the Bulldogs up, 3-2. Zach Redmond earned his eight assist on the season and O'Keefe earned his third assist.
Western Michigan had a power play late in the second period and had their best scoring chance of the period. Junior Jeff LoVecchio had a shot clear to the net but O'Keefe made the save. The rebound bounced out to the left and Galivan had an open net but was unable to get the shot off.
The Broncos finish the season series 1-2-1 agianst Ferris State.
Western Michigan now takes the long trip Fairbanks, Ala. to take on the Nanooks on Feb.1 and Feb. 2. Both games will start at 11:05 p.m. (ET)
