Ferris State suffers sweep at Union

By Andy Oliver / Ferris State Beat Writer

The Ferris State Bulldogs started the season with a setback, getting swept by the Union Dutchmen in non-conference action at the Achilles Center in Schenectady, N.Y.

The Bulldogs got a solid effort by freshman goaltender Pat Nagle, but fell 2-0 to the Dutchmen on Friday night.

After a scoreless first period, Union popped in two quick goals to open and close the game’s scoring.

The first Union goal came at the 7:19 mark of the period when Ferris turned the puck over at their blue line to Union defenseman Mike Schreiber. Schreiber moved the puck down the right side to Adam Presizniuk who passed across the front of the net to an open Mario Valery-Trabucco who tipped the puck up over Nagle's blocker.

The second goal of the period came only three minutes later when Union forward Matt Cook brought the puck down the ice on a 3-on-2 rush. Cook rifled a quick pass to Jason Walters who hit a streaking Torren Delforte and beat Nagle high glove side with a one-timer.

The third period saw Ferris outshoot Union, 9-4, but the Bulldogs were unable to beat Union senior goaltender Justin Mrazek. With 1:40 left in the period, Ferris pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker and were able to create two good scoring chances, but could not convert.

Freshman forwards Mike Embach, Mike Fillinger, Justin Menke, and defenseman Zach Redmond also saw their first collegiate action in the Friday’s loss to Union.

Nagle finished the night with 26 of 28 saves. Mrazek stopped all 18 shots he faced for his fifth career shutout.

Ferris State came out with more firepower on Saturday night, but eventually fell by a final of 4-1.

Justin Lewandowski scored the first goal of the game and the Bulldogs first of the season at 15:15 of the opening period.

The Dutchmen scored a power-play marker in the second to tie the game and then fired in three more in the third to grab the season-opening sweep.

Derek MacIntyre stopped 23 of 27 shots for the Bulldogs. Mrazek stopped 25 of 26 shots, giving him 43 saves for the weekend.

The Dutchmen killed off all 11 of the Bulldogs' power-play opportunities over the weekend.

Ferris State will return to action at home next weekend when they host the Wayne State Warriors in a pair of non-conference games back at Ewigleben.