The No. 18-ranked Bulldogs ended 2010 with a loss, but earned a tie to ring in 2011 at the 20th annual Mariucci Classic in Minneapolis, Minn.
Ferris and tournament host No. 19-ranked Minnesota battled to a 2-2 overtime tie on the first day of 2011. Ferris sophomore right wing Matthew Kirzinger knocked in his third goal of the season after the Bulldogs took advantage of good puck movement to set up Kirzinger for the goal and jump to a 1-0 lead just 4:09 into the game.
Minnesota knotted the score at 1-1 when Jake Hansen scored on a rebound off of a stop by Ferris senior goalie Pat Nagle at the end of the first period. Nagle had 32 saves on the night and is fourth in the NCAA in goals against average at 1.84 goals per game.
After a goal by Ferris junior Brett Wysopal gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead with 3:32 left in the second period, the Gophers tallied a power-play goal halfway through the final period to deadlock the score.
After a scoreless overtime period, the referees called off a potential shootout to leave the teams with a tie.
Though a tie was not the desired outcome, the Bulldogs settled for it after dropping the first game of the tournament against Bemidji State 3-2 on Dec. 31.
Ferris will return to CCHA conference play on Jan 7 with a road series against the Bowling Green State Falcons. Ferris stands at 9-8-4 overall on the season.