Best Scores as Ferris State Hockey Starts Weekend With Loss to #18 Minnesota State

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. – Senior forward Gavin Best scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season Friday (Jan. 30) in Ferris State Hockey's 6-1 loss to #18 Minnesota State in Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) play.

The Bulldogs (4-23-0, 3-16-0 CCHA) were outshot 40-11 by the Mavericks (14-8-5, 10-6-3 CCHA) and fell behind 2-0 in the first period before Best cut the deficit in half early in period two. Hobie Hedquist started between the pipes and made 34 saves in 59:52 minutes.

Mason LeBel put Minnesota State on the board 3:15 into the first period. Bryce Strand and Fin Williams collected assists. Tristan Lemyre made it 2-0 in favor of the Mavericks at 15:34 with an unassisted goal. 

Best scored his second power play goal of the year at 4:28 in the second period. John Lundy passed from the right wall to Max Itagaki at the left wall who then rifled a pass backside to Best for the finish. Itagaki got his ninth helper of the year and Lundy earned his sixth.

MSU took a 3-1 lead at 8:44 on Mason Wheeler's first goal of the year. Ean Somoza and Luigi Benincasa assisted. The Mavericks extended the lead to 4-1 at 19:40 with a goal by Jordan Ronn. LeBel and Evan Murr assisted.

Reid Morich scored twice in the third to seal a win for Minnesota State. His first goal came at 3:33 with Jakob Stender and Sawyer Scholl assisting. Morich scored again at 13:28 from Stender to clinch a 6-1 victory.

For the game, FSU was a perfect 6-6 on the penalty kill and went 1-4 on the power play. The Bulldogs won 32 faceoffs compared to 30 for Minnesota State and blocked 19 shots.

Individually, Trevor Taulien led the way with four blocked shots, Tanner Rowe paced the squad with five shots on goal and Josh Zary led with 12 faceoff wins.

The Bulldogs will go for the split against Minnesota State Saturday (Jan. 31). Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 5:30 p.m. (ET). Live coverage will be provided on Midco Sports Plus, and fans are encouraged to wear red for the Red Out.