Bulldogs split with Ohio State

By Tom Morelli/Ferris State Beat Writer

Ferris State began their CCHA schedule over the weekend against Ohio State with a 2-1 win on Friday followed by a 5-3 loss.

The first game got off to a slow start, as neither team was able to score in the opening period. Senior winger Nate Hennig would finally break the deadlock at 12:20 of the second after finishing off a cross-ice pass from sophomore Kyle Bonis for his fourth marker in as many games.

The Bulldogs added to their lead just 2:31 later, with Hennig returning the favor. Defenseman Chad Billins flipped the puck out of Ferris State's defensive zone, where Bonis scooped it up by the boards and passed to Hennig. Moments later, Hennig sent the puck back over to Bonis, who finished the job en route to scoring his first marker of the campaign.

Toward the end of the frame, the Buckeyes would cut the deficit in half with a goal by C.J. Severyn from the right circle

Senior goaltender Pat Nagle had 25 saves to Cal Heeter's 22.

In Saturday's game, special teams proved to be both a strength and a weakness for the Bulldogs, who scored two goals on the power-play while their penalty kill allowed three.

Senior Mike Embach put Ferris State on the board first at 1:48 of the opening period while on the man-advantage. Earning helpers on the goal were Jordie Johnston and Zach Redmond.

A little over two minutes later, the Buckeyes would answer back with a power-play goal of their own, as Danny Dries snuck the puck past Nagle.

Later in the frame, Ohio State took their first lead of the contest on an even-strength marker by Shane Sims.

The Bulldogs would bounce back in the middle stanza, thanks to scores by Bonis and Redmond. Bonis' goal came at 3:17, when he poked in Travis Ouellette's rebound from just outside the crease. Redmond helped Ferris State convert their 5-on-3 opportunity at 15:58 with a powerful shot that flew over the right shouder of Heeter.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs 3-2 lead would quickly disappear in the third, as the Buckeyes produced two power-play goals within a four-minute span. John Albert sealed the win by adding an empty-netter with 29 seconds remaining.

Nagle held a 26-21 advantage over Heeter in saves.

Ferris State (4-2-0 overall, 1-1-0-0 CCHA) has a home-and-home series scheduled with Michigan this weekend. The Bulldogs will host Friday's contest before heading down to Ann Arbor the following night.