BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Another big third period saw Ferris State take a 4-2 win over Bowling Green on Saturday night.
Bowling Green jumped out to a two-goal lead midway through the game, but Ferris State clawed their way back into the game with four unanswered goals to end the game.
“We found ways to hurt ourselves,” said Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron. “Full marks to Ferris, two games in a row they found ways to win or last night was a tie, I guess.”
Despite the two-goal deficit, the Bulldogs never appeared to be out of the game.
“I thought we played better tonight than last night,” said Ferris State coach Bob Daniels. “Tonight, we had a strong game from start to finish.”
After Bowling Green took a two-goal lead with a pair of second-chance goals, Ferris State goalie C.J. Motte was unbeatable.
“[Motte is] a big-time goalie,” Bergeron said. “I’m not sure the WCHA knew what kind of goalie he is. He’s an all-WCHA, All-American goalie.”
Ferris State finally got on the board with freshman Kyle Schempp’s fifth of the year.
“We only had one five-on-five goal all weekend, but it was a big one,” said Daniels of Schempp’s goal.
As the final frame began, Ferris State came out with noticeable energy.
“I don’t know what we’re doing with the lead,” said Bergeron. “Tonight’s third period was disappointing from start to finish. We didn’t seem to have jump from the time they dropped the puck.”
For Ferris State, it was the exact opposite.
“I thought it was a continuation from the end of the second period,” said Daniels. “It looked like we gained a lot of confidence at the end of the second period and it carried over.”
Kenny Babinski tied the game for the Bulldogs early in the third with a shorthanded breakaway goal. Babinski poked the puck loose and was off to races before making a move and slipping the puck through Tomas Sholl’s pads.
“He lost his footing and I was able to chip it ahead and make a move on the goalie,” said Babinski.
The game-winning goal came late in the third as Ferris State was in the late stages of a five-minute power play after Adam Berkle was ejected for checking from behind.
Sophomore Matt Robertson tallied his second of the year as everyone collapsed to the net and he poked the puck in.
“I went to the front of the net [and] the first feed went through my legs, so I was just trying to get my stick on it,” explained Robertson. “I thought I pushed it wide, so I didn’t even see it go in. They were tired and gave us a shot at it.”
Next weekend, Bowling Green returns home for a two-game series with Minnesota State, while Ferris State wraps up a six-game homestand with a pair of games against Alaska.
