Bulldogs split home opener with St. Lawrence

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

What goes around, comes around.

That's the lesson learned by both St. Lawrence and Ferris State this past weekend, as their series produced a similar storyline, but with a different result.

Playing at home for the first time this season, the Bulldogs took the early lead with 47 seconds left in the opening stanza on a Justin Buzzeo marker.

Despite being a man down to begin the ensuing frame, Ferris State was able find the back of the net, thanks to a goal by forward Justin DeMartino from fellow senior Corey Kane with 1:07 elapsed.

The Saints however would respond two minutes later, as Drew Smolcynski put the puck past netminder Charles Williams to cut the deficit in half.

With less than three minutes until intermission, St. Lawrence knotted the score at two goals apiece on a lamplighter from Brian Ward.

Gunnar Hughes notched his second assist of the contest on Smolcynski's game-winner with 13:36 elapsed, in what would be the only score of the third.

Williams (0-2) stopped 26 shots, compared to Matt Weininger's 24-save performance for the Saints.

Saturday's contest was "Pink in the Rink", where Ferris State players donned pink jerseys in an effort to increase breast cancer awareness and raise money for research.

The Saints rushed out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first off a power-play goal from Eric Sweetman.

Just 32 seconds into the following period, Matt Carey made it a 2-0 affair with assists being credited to Jeremy Wick and Greg Carey.

Thompson broke the Bulldogs' scoring drought shortly thereafter while on the man-advantage, before Buzzeo added an even-strength marker with under nine minutes left in the stanza.

A penalty-laden third period from both sides would end-up benefiting Ferris State, as Kane restored their lead off a pass from senior forward Andy Huff.

Freshman Seth Adams and Huff each notched a power-play marker to put the Bulldogs ahead 5-2, before St. Lawerence's Woody Hudson lit the lamp with 1:31 remaining.

Eight players tallied helpers for Ferris State, with senior defenseman Scott Czarnowczan leading the way with two assists to his credit.

Junior goaltender C.J. Motte collected 31 saves to improve to 3-0 as a starter this season.

Ferris State 3, Mercyhurst 2: The Bulldogs bounced back from a 1-0 deficit in Tuesday's game to rattle off three consecutive goals, beginning with sophomore Kenny Babinksi's first of the campaign off a rebound with 4:43 left in the first period. Thompson and DeMartino each found the back of the net 32 seconds apart during the second to give Ferris State a 3-1 lead entering the final period of play. Motte shied away 22 of 24 shots for the win.

The Bulldogs (3-2 overall) are idle this weekend, but will open their inaugural season in the WCHA on November 1-2 with a series against Alabama-Huntsville.