Box Score

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team allowed five second period goals and dropped a 7-3 decision at 16th-ranked Ferris State on Friday night at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids, Michigan. The Lakers fell to 0-2-0 on the young season, while the Bulldogs improved to 1-1-1 on the year.

Mercyhurst dropped to 0-5-0 lifetime against the Bulldogs, who hoisted new banners prior to the opening faceoff commemorating last year's run to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Regular-Season title, the NCAA Midwest Regional crown, and a national title game appearance at the Frozen Four. A special ring ceremony took place following the game.

The Bulldogs jumped out in front 2-0 with a pair of goals 1:07 apart near the midway mark of the opening period. Andy Huff got Ferris State on the board at the 7:24 mark with his first goal of the young season, beating Mercyhurst senior goaltender Max Strang for a 1-0 advantage. Cory Kane and Justin DeMartino had the assists. The hosts then took a 2-0 lead at the 8:31 mark on a goal by Kyle Bonis. Travis Ouellette and Garrett Thompson picked up the helpers.

Mercyhurst would respond, however, when junior defenseman Nick Jones notched his first career shorthanded goal at the 12:05 mark, cutting the Ferris State lead to 2-1. Sophomore Ryan Misiak, who scored the Lakers' lone goal in last Saturday's season opening loss at Niagara, picked up the assist.

Ferris State outshot the Lakers 15-9 in the opening period.

The second period, however, belonged to the Bulldogs. Ferris State would score five times in the middle stanza and would outshoot the Lakers 19-2 to break open a one-goal contest. Kenny Babinski and Ouelette scored 13 seconds apart, at the 5:32 and 5:45 marks respectively, giving the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead. The second period barrage continued when Huff added his second goal of the night, a power play tally at the 11:24 mark for a 5-1 Bulldog lead. Just over three minutes later, Bonis scored his second goal of the night before Simon Denis capped off the five-goal outburst with a marker at the 19:57 mark.

Mercyhurst would score the final two goals of the night, both coming in the third period, to narrow the final margin. Senior defenseman Charlie Carkin scored his first goal of the season, and just the fourth goal of his career, at the 6:15 mark, cutting the Ferris State lead to 7-2. Sophomore Nardo Nagtzaam had the lone assist on the goal.

Nagtzaam would then notch his first goal of the young season with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation for the final goal of the night. Junior Kyle Just and sophomore Daniel Bahntge had the assists.

Strang suffered the loss, stopping 27-of-34 Ferris State shots through 40 minutes of action. He dropped to 0-2 on the season. Junior Jordan Tibbett played the third period and turned aside all 14 Ferris State shots on goal. Meanwhile, CJ Motte played the first two periods for Ferris State to earn the victory. He stopped 10-of-11 Mercyhurst shots. Charles Williams and Rob Granett split time in the third period, combining to make 11 saves.

Neither team had to spend much time on the penalty kill during the night. Ferris State was whistled for three minor penalties while the Lakers were assessed two minors. Ferris State was 1-for-2 on the power play, but did allow the shorthanded tally by Jones. The Lakers were 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

The Lakers will look to pick up their first win of the season, and their first win against Ferris State, when the two teams wrap up the weekend series on Saturday night. Faceoff from the Ewigleben Ice Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.