Monday, October 29, 2007

Ferris splits with Notre Dame

by Andy Oliver / Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State took a surprising split from Notre Dame over the weekend and in the process knocked the Irish down the national standings a pinch.

Friday night, Notre Dame scored the first goal of the game at 7:23 of the first period when Evan Rankin received a pass from Brett Blatchford to enter the Ferris zone. Rankin took a quick shot from just inside the blue line through a screen and beat Ferris goalie Pat Nagle low blocker.

The game stayed 1-0 until the beginning of the third period. Notre Dame scored again at 1:41 of the third period. Christian Hanson won the face off in the Ferris zone back to defenseman Brock Sheahan, who took a low shot that pinballed through traffic and was deflected in by Ben Ryan.

Notre Dame would score again at 2:55 of the third when a forechecking Dan Kissel would steal the puck behind the Ferris goal and center it to an open Ryan Thang, who buried his shot before Nagle could react.

The Bulldogs picked up the tempo after the third goal and started to make it a game when Corey Couturier scored his first goal of the season at 10:31 of the third period. Defenseman Scott Wietecha moved the puck down low in the Notre Dame zone to Aaron Lewicki, who centered a pass to Couturier at the left faceoff circle and he beat Notre Dame goaltender Jordan Pearce high blocker side.

With 1:31 left in the game, Ferris pulled Nagle for a sixth attacker and the play worked.

At 19:04 Couturier scored his second goal of the night for Ferris. Matt Case moved the puck to defensive partner Evan Case, who put a hard low shot on net and Couturier tipped it past Pearce to make it a one-goal game. Ferris continued to put pressure on Notre Dame but was unable to tie the game.

Nagle made 31 saves for FSU.

Saturday night, Ferris shutout Notre Dame, 3-0, behind a stellar 37-save outing from goalie Mitch O’Keefe.

Matt Frank started the scoring for Ferris at 16:07 of the first period with a shorthanded goal. On the forecheck, Matt Case got the puck to Frank, who took a shot through a Notre Dame defenseman’s legs and beat Pearce high blocker side.

Justin Menke scored the second shorthanded goal of the game at 6:56 of the third period for Ferris. Case was able to clear the puck out of the Ferris zone and a speedy Menke picked up the puck near center ice and went in on a breakaway. Menke cut across in front of Pearce and beat him five hole along the ice.

Adam Miller scored his first goal of the season at 17:46 of the third period. Notre Dame had pulled their goalie for the sixth attacker and was putting pressure on O'Keefe, when the puck was chipped out of the Ferris zone. Lewicki won the race for the puck near center ice and taped it up to Miller who shot it into the empty Notre Dame net.

Notre Dame would pull their goaltender again and played the last 1:27 in the Ferris zone with a 6-on-3 man advantage due to two Ferris penalties, but were unable to beat O'Keefe.

The Bulldogs (2-3-1, 1-1-0 CCHA) are at Ohio State this weekend.

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