Ferris State splits with UNO

By Andy Oliver / Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State split at Nebraska-Omaha last weekend by winning 5-1 on Friday night, but falling Sunday, 2-0.

Friday night, Brendan Connolly started the scoring for Ferris at 5:18 of the first period when he dove and tipped in a pass from Cody Chupp between the legs of Nebraska-Omaha goaltender Jerad Kaufmann.

Ferris freshman defenseman Scott Wietecha continued the scoring at 7:15 with his first career goal on a one-timer from the point that beat Kaufmann high blocker. Assisting on the power play goal was Corey Couturier and Zach Redmond. Nebraska-Omaha came right back at 8:58 of the first, with what would be their only goal of the game. Rich Purslow took a slap shot from the top of the circles on Ferris goaltender Pat Nagle and the rebound went right to Mick Lawrence standing all alone at the side of the net and he put it behind Nagle.

Ferris scored its third goal of the period at 10:41 when Couturier took a bad-angle shot from the end line and it beat Kaufmann low inside the post. Assisting on the goal was Connolly and Chupp. That was the end of the night for Kaufmann, who was replaced by backup goaltender Jeremie Dupont.

Ferris forward Blair Riley picked up his second goal of the season at 4:10 of the second period with a one-timer from the left faceoff dot. Adam Welch and Evan Case assisted on Riley's goal.

Ferris' final goal of the game came at 14:57 of the third period when J.T. Dahlinger took a pass from Matt Frank and put a low, hard shot on net that deflected off a Nebraska-Omaha defenseman past Dupont. Also assisting on the goal for Ferris was forward Adam Miller.

Nagle got the win with 31 saves on the night.

Sunday was a different game, as Nebraska-Omaha senior goaltender Eric Aarnio got his first career shutout.

Ferris State goaltender Mitch O'Keefe made 20 saves in a losing effort.

The Bulldogs (5-6-1, 4-4-0 CCHA) are idle this weekend and return to action next weekend for a home-and-home set with Western Michigan starting Friday at home.