BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The 16th ranked Western Michigan hockey team fell to Ferris State, 3-1, in front of 1,484 fans at Ewigleben Ice Arena on Friday night, ending WMU's three-game unbeaten streak.

The Broncos (6-3-2, 2-2-1-0 CCHA) surrendered two short-handed goals after giving up only four all of last season. Nick Pisellini made 19 saves in only his second loss of the season and Chase Balisy netted his fourth goal.

Ferris State (6-5-2, 3-4-2-2 CCHA) took an early 1-0 lead on a short handed goal at 4:20 in the first period. Max Campbell turned the puck over at center ice to Mike Fillinger and Fillinger took it down the ice, creating a two-on-one advantage. Fillinger took the shot instead of passing and beat Pisellini on his glove side for his second of the season. It was the first short-handed goal surrendered by the Broncos this season.

WMU tied the game, 1-1, at the 14:21 mark of the second period. Kyle O'Kane fed the puck through the slot to Balisy on the right side of the net. The freshman banged it home for his fourth goal of the season. O'Kane tallied his fourth assist of the season in the power play goal and freshman forward Shane Berschbach tallied his team-leading seventh assist.

The lead didn't last long as Brett Wysopal took the lead back for Ferris State at the 17:01 mark in the second period. A shot by Matthew Kirzinger deflected off of the crossbar and right to Eric Alexander. Alexander found Wysopal wide open in the slot and the junior defenseman beat Pisellini on his stick side.

The Broncos surrendered another short-handed goal midway through the third period. A scrum against the boards in the WMU zone created a lose puck that bounced to Justin Menke. Menke passed it ahead to Mike Embach, who took the puck down the left side of the ice. Embach let a shot go from the tip of the circle and beat Pisellini for his third goal of the season.  

The Broncos and Bulldogs battle it out for the final time of the regular season on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.