Ferris State Hockey Falls to Augustana 4-2 in CCHA Home Opener

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team played its Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) home opener Friday (Nov. 7) in the Ewigleben Ice Arena against Augustana University, falling 4-2 to the Vikings.

The Bulldogs (1-8-0, 0-3-0 CCHA) scored the first goal against the Vikings (6-3-0, 3-2-0 CCHA), but Augie battled back with two second period goals and persevered late despite an extra attacker goal from FSU. Martin Lundberg started his third consecutive game for the Bulldogs and made 21 saves in the loss.

Josh Zary put the Bulldogs up 1-0 at 10:24 in the first period with his team-leading fifth goal of the season. Jack Silich played a puck off a rebound back to the point for Nic Belpedio, who took a shot that Zary redirected past AU goaltender Josh Kotai for the goal. Silich got his first point of the year with an assist and Belpedio collected his first point as a Bulldog with the primary assist.

Ferris State took its 1-0 advantage into the intermission, but Augustana answered with two goals in period two.

Colton Friesen scored his team-leading fourth goal on the power play at 9:19. Brett Meerman and Leo Bulgakov assisted. At 17:26, Bulgakov scored his fourth of the year with Ben Troumbly and Easton Young assisting, and Augustana took a 2-1 advantage into the break.

Hunter Bischoff gave the Vikings a 3-1 lead at 3:35 in the third with his fourth goal of the year. Max Chakrabarti and Jacob Jastrzebski assisted.

FSU pulled Lundberg at 18:13, and Gavin Best converted FSU's first extra attacker goal of the season at 19:21. Trevor Taulien passed from the point to Max Dukovac in the lower right circle who then touched a pass to Best in the slot. Best fired a shot and lit the lamp for his fourth goal of the season. Taulien picked up his first point of the year with a helper and Dukovac got his first point as a Bulldog with the primary assist.

Jastrzebski scored an empty-net goal at 19:36 to seal a 4-2 win for the Vikings.

For the game, the Bulldogs were 0-1 on the power play and the Vikings were 1-2. FSU had 30 shots on goal while AU had 25. Ferris State blocked 11 shots and won 28 faceoffs compared to six blocked shots and 29 faceoff wins for Augustana.

Individually, Christopher Lie, Valtteri Piironen and Tyler Schleppe each blocked two shots. Dukovac led the way with six shots on goal and Best had five. Zary finished with nine faceoff wins to lead the team.

Jastrzebski and Bulgakov both finished with two points and Kotai stopped 28 shots in his sixth win of the year. Lundberg finished the game 21-24 on save attempts and suffered his third loss.

The Bulldogs will close the home series against Augustana on Saturday (Nov. 8) at 6:07 p.m. (ET). Pregame coverage will begin on Sunny 97.3 FM at 5:30 p.m. (ET) and fans can tune into the video stream through Midco Sports Plus via pay-per-view.