Bulldogs Fall to #16 Minnesota State in Mason Cup Quarterfinals Opener

Mankato, Minn. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team began the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) Mason Cup Playoffs Friday (March 6) with a 5-1 setback to #16 Minnesota State University.

The eight-seeded Bulldogs (7-26-2) traveled to the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center to face the top-seeded Mavericks (19-9-7). With the loss, Ferris State will need a Saturday (March 7) win to force Game 3 Sunday (March 8) in the best-of-three series.

In Friday's loss, Martin Lundberg made 30 saves and Xavier Jean-Louis scored FSU's goal. The Bulldogs were outshot 35-13 and were a perfect 4-4 on the penalty kill.

Jack Smith put the Mavericks up 1-0 2:02 into the game. Alex Zetterberg and Ean Somoza assisted. Evan Murr made it 2-0 at 16:31 with Fin Williams assisting.

Zetterberg gave MSU a 3-0 lead at 9:10 in the second period. Smith and Somoza had the helpers.

Jean-Louis put FSU on the board at 10:41 with his fifth goal of the season. Gavin Best and Tanner Rowe forced a Maverick turnover with a hard forecheck, giving Jack Silich space to find Jean-Louis at the point for a long-range shot that beat MSU goaltender Alex Tracy. Silich collected his third assist of the year on Jean-Louis's goal.

Campbell Cichosz put MSU up 4-1 with a goal at 6:35 in the third period. Mason LeBel assisted. Luigi Benicasa scored an empty-net goal at 18:53 to seal a victory for the Mavericks.

The Bulldogs were 0-2 on the power play in the loss and won 26 faceoffs compared to 31 for the Mavericks.

Individually, Jean-Louis led the team with three shots on goal and both Silich and Christopher Lie had team-highs with two blocked shots. Rowe and Tyler Schleppe each won six faceoffs to lead the team.

The Bulldogs will play Game 2 of the CCHA Mason Cup Quarterfinals Saturday (March 7). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 6:30 p.m. (ET).