A puck lay alone in the crease as 2.5 seconds stood on the clock. Down 2-1, Ferris came within a foot of tying the game as the final period ticked to a close.
The nationally ranked no. 1 Minnesota State Maverick’s starting goaltender Stephon Williams laid down and covered the puck. Off the ensuing faceoff, Ferris sophomore forward Chad McDonald let a missile go, but it missed high, and the Mavericks escaped.
The Ferris State Bulldogs had a tough matchup in a 2-1 loss against the Mavericks on Friday night at Ewigleben Ice Arena.
Minnesota State drew blood first with 7:53 left in the 1st period. The Mavericks scored on a 2 on 1 on their 8th shot on goal of the night. Jordan Nelson tallied the goal for Minnesota State. Jon Jutzi and Casey Nelson were credited with the assists for the Mavericks.
At about the 7-minute mark, Ferris nearly answered with a great chance from Junior forward Matt Robertson, but the wrist shot went off the post and the score remained 1-0.
With 1:56 left, freshman center Andrew Dorantes was called for a slashing minor and the Bulldogs had to fight off a power play for the final minutes of the first period. Ferris State was outshot by the Mavericks 12 to seven in the first.
Not long into the second period, left defensemen Zach Dorer was assigned a holding penalty for the Bulldogs, but they killed it off with ease. The Bulldogs put a stop to another power play when Andrew Dorantes was called for charging the goalie after he collided heavily with Minnesota State goaltender and New York Islanders prospect Stephon Williams.
With 5:05 left in second period, Minnesota State scored on a shot from the point that appeared to be tipped in front of the net. Maverick defensemen Casey Nelson was awarded the goal off an assist from winger Chase Grant.
The Mavericks were called for two penalties in the last 4 minutes of the second period, but the Bulldogs couldn’t capitalize. At the end of the period, shots were 22-14 in favor of Minnesota State.
To begin the third period, Ferris State started with 1:03 still left on their power play from the Bryce Gervais tripping penalty towards the end of the second but could not convert.
The Bulldogs scored an even strength goal with 7:33 left in the game to cut the lead to one. Assistant captain Kyle Schempp cut through the Minnesota State zone with some fancy stick-work and buried it home with some help from Simon Denis on the assist.
The goal wasn’t enough though, as the rest of the game went scoreless ending in a 2-1 Minnesota State victory. C.J. Motte recorded 26 saves for the Bulldogs, and Minnesota State goaltender Stephon Williams had 24 saves on the night.
After the loss, the Bulldogs record drops to 11-12-1 on the season. Ferris State will return to play the No. 1 ranked Mavericks Saturday night at home.