Bulldogs earn sweep against UConn

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State improved its record to 3-1-0 following last weekend’s pair of wins against Connecticut in non-conference play.

In Friday’s game, the Bulldogs trailed 1-0 following a goal by Daniel Naurato before sparking a two-goal comeback in the second period.

With 3:34 elapsed, defenseman Michael Trebish and forward Matthew Kirzinger each garnered assists on a game-tying goal by center Derek Graham.

Freshman Travis Ouellette took advantage of a Ferris State power-play with 1:31 remaining in the period for his second goal of the season. Ouellette scored the game-winner by redirecting a blast from blueliner Scott Wietecha while in front of Huskies’ goaltender Jeff Larson.

Earning the win between the pipes for the Bulldogs was sophomore Taylor Nelson with 26 stops, 10 of which came in the final frame.

At the other end of the ice, Brad McInnis had 12 saves in net before leaving the game with an injury early in the second period. In his absence, Larson shied away 24 shots in a losing effort.

Ferris State displayed much more firepower the following night, as six different skaters scored in a 6-1 rout to give the Bulldogs their first sweep of the season.

Senior Blair Riley kicked off the scoring festivities by banking in a rebound off of Larson with 9:35 gone by in the opening period.

With less than two minutes to go in first, Graham dumped the puck behind the net, where junior Todd Pococke gained possession before threading the needle to give Ferris State and insurance goal.

A power-play opportunity fell into the hands of the Bulldogs late in the second period, thanks to a hooking call on Connecticut’s Alex Gerke. Backed-up in their own zone, Ferris State netminder Pat Nagle cleared the puck out to defenseman Chad Billins, who then found an open Matt Case for the finish.

The Huskies earned their only lamp-lighter of the evening at the 17:08 mark, as Jeff Sapieha helped set-up a Sean Ambrosie goal.

Bulldogs’ captain Cody Chupp made it a 4-1 game by scoring with the man-advantage just 42 seconds into the third period.

Billins and Kirzinger accounted for Ferris State’s last two goals.

Nagle and Larson remained tied in the saves department, with 22 apiece.

The Bulldogs remain at home this weekend when they close out their non-conference schedule against Robert Morris, beginning Friday at 7:05 pm.