KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Four freshmen scored their first career goals for Western Michigan as the Broncos earned a 4-1 victory over Ferris State on Friday night at Lawson Arena. 

Iiro Hakkarainen, Joona Väisänen, Ty Henricks and Zach Nehring tallied goals while captain Tim Washe picked up two assists in the win. Goaltender Cameron Rowe made 17 saves to pick up his 55th career victory. 

FIRST PERIOD
It didn't take long for the Broncos to show some offensive firepower, as Hakkarainen found a loose puck and beat FSU goaltender Noah West for the first goal of his career. Washe and Robby Drazner picked up assists on the goal. 

Just a few minutes after that, Washe won a draw back to Vaisanen and he did the rest. The Finnish blue liner made some nice moves behind the net and wrapped a shot around West to put the Brown and Gold in front 2-0 not even five minutes into the game. 

A few minutes later, Ferris State would get on the board. The Bulldogs capitalized on an odd-man rush to bring the game back within one. After the goal, WMU went back on the attack and got shots on goal from Alex Bump, Jack Mesic and Nehring. 

FSU hit the post just over 13 minutes into the frame, but WMU was able to clear the threat and maintain its lead. Down the stretch of the period, Hakkarainen and Owen Michaels had looks saved by West, and the Broncos carried a one-goal lead into the second 20 minutes. 

SECOND PERIOD
Western Michigan went on the power play just over three minutes into the second frame. Bump had the lone look on the man advantage, and Ferris State eventually got back to full strength. 

A few minutes after that, WMU picked up a penalty of its own. Rowe made two saves and the Broncos blocked two shots to remain in front 2-1. As the game moved past the midway point of the second period, the Brown and Gold got another look on the power play. 

Tristan Lemyre, Nehring and Bump all tested West with shots, but he and the Ferris State defense were able to kill off the penalty. In the closing minutes of the second frame, Zack Sharp and Michaels had looks on net, but the game moved to the final period with a 2-1 score in favor of WMU.

THIRD PERIOD
Western Michigan had a bunch of good chances to open the final period and was eventually rewarded with a goal just over nine minutes in. Henricks got a pass from Brian Kramer and ripped a wrist shot by West to push the WMU lead to 3-1. 

About three minutes later, Nehring put the game out of reach, scoring the first goal of his career to make it a 4-1 game. Grant Slukynsky picked up the assist on the goal. 

WMU went on to close out a 4-1 victory, outshooting Ferris State by a total of 44-18. WMU blocked 17 shots and won 44 faceoffs. 

UP NEXT
WMU and Ferris State will close out the series on Saturday night in Big Rapids. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.