FSU falters twice against Broncos

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

For only the second time this season, No. 6 ranked Ferris State has felt the wrath of the broom.

Having lost a series to Michigan back in October, the Bulldogs were on the receiving end of another sweep over the weekend, this time against the likes of No. 12 ranked Western Michigan.

Friday's match-up proved to be a tight one early on, as both teams remained scoreless after the first 20 minutes.

Junior forward Kyle Bonis broke the 0-0 deadlock 6:42 into the ensuing frame, deflecting a shot off the stick of linemate Jordie Johnston to notch his team-high eighth goal of the season.

Much to the crowd's dismay at the Ewigleben Arena, the Broncos dug themselves out of a hole by tallying a trio of goals within a three minute span in the final stanza. Jordan Osterle knocked in a rebound to even-up the score at the 8:21 mark, followed by markers from Mark Tennyson at 11:41 and 12:18.

A one-timer by junior forward Matthew Kirzinger over a minute later brought Ferris State within one, but Western's Derek Roehl sealed the deal on an empty-netter with 48 seconds left in regulation.

Senior goaltender Taylor Nelson had 34 saves in the loss, while counterpart Frank Slubowski finished with 23.

The series finale at Lawson Arena on Saturday night turned out to be a completely one-sided affair, with Slubowski earning his second career shutout in a 3-0 decision.

Following last night's script of a scoreless opening period, action picked-up in the second on power-play goals by Will Kessel and Dane Walters.

With under four minutes left in the third, Walters slid the puck past freshman netminder C.J. Motte for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Shane Berschbach finished with two helpers for the Broncos.

Motte stopped 39 shots, including 18 in the first period alone.

Slubowski was credited with 25 saves en route to earning his fifth win of the season.

Western Michigan (8-4-4 overall, 6-4-2-2 CCHA) travels to Bowling Green for a 7:05 pm showdown on Friday, before concluding the series in Kalamazoo the following night.

The Bulldogs (10-5-1 overall, 6-5-1-0 CCHA) face Notre Dame this weekend in a home-and-home series, beginning in Big Rapids on Friday and ending the next night in South Bend.