FSU squeezes out four points against Alaska

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

When Ferris State and Alaska square-off, they seem to bring out the best in one another.

This weekend was no different for both teams, as the Bulldogs skated to a 4-4 tie with the Nanooks before pulling off a 4-3 decision in the series finale.

Ferris State played catch-up for the better part of Friday's game, answering back goals throughout the first 40 minutes of play, with the score tied 3-3 heading into the third period.

With 7:20 elapsed, junior forward Kyle Bonis notched his 10th goal of the campaign to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.

Unfortunately for Ferris State, their lead was short-lived as Alaska's Adam Henderson scored the game-tying goal while on the power-play a mere two minutes later.

Following a scoreless overtime, Henderson would display his talents once again by being the only player to light the lamp from either side during the shootout.

Bulldogs' netiminder Talyor Nelson faced 15 shots in the opening period to finish with 36 saves, while Scott Greenham tallied 31 stops.

As wild as the series opener was, the game of 'cat-and-mouse' between Ferris State and the Nanooks would carry over into Saturday's contest.

Though Alaska managed to grab a 1-0 lead less than two minutes in, the Bulldogs quickly halted their opponent's momentum with markers by seniors Jordie Johnston and Chad Billins to make it a 2-1 affair with two periods in the books.

Down but not out, Andy Taranto evened-up the score 34 seconds into the final stanza, before teammate Ron Myers put the Nanooks back on top by a 3-2 margin.

Ferris State would respond shortly thereafter, beginning with a game-tying goal by Matthew Kirzinger at 9:31, courtesy of Garrett Thompson and Brett Wysopal.

The Bulldogs found themselves on the man-advantage just minutes later, as Thompson snuck the puck past Greenham for the game-winner, with helpers being credited to Scott Czarnowczan and Kirzinger.

Nelson, who edged out Greeham 28-20 in saves, improves his record to 10-4-1 as a starter this season.

In what might be their biggest test of the season, Ferris State (14-8-2 overall, 8-6-2-0 CCHA) heads to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for a two-game series against Ohio State, whom currently sits at the top of the CCHA standings.