BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – A special teams battle fell in favor of Ferris State University on Friday afternoon, as the Alaska Nanooks hockey team dropped a 3-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest to FSU at the Ewigleben Arena in Big Rapids.
The loss drops Alaska's overall record to 3-6-2 and 1-3-1-1 in conference play, while the Bulldogs improve to 4-6-1 overall and 1-3-1-0 in WCHA matchups.
"We just didn't come out ready to work hard and play our game," head coach
Lance West said on Friday. "I have to take responsibility for that, as weren't prepared to work and compete with the discipline we needed tonight."
In a game that saw a combined 52 penalty minutes, both the Nanooks and the Bulldogs were able to find the back of the net on the man-advantage as Alaska went 1-for-10 while Ferris State went 2-for-8. The Nanooks, who haven't registered a power play goal since Oct. 20 at Alaska Anchorage earned their fourth power play tally of the season from sophomore defenseman
James LaDouce.
Ferris State opened the scoring on Friday night, tallying their first power play goal of the night only 4:04 into the first period. Defenseman Cameron Clarke ripped a one-timer from the point to make it a 1-0 game with assists awarded to Lucas Finner and Joe Rutkowski.
Only four minutes later, LaDouce picked up his first goal of the season at the 8:25 mark on the man-advantage. Freshman forward Steven Jandric kicked the puck over to LaDouce on the flank, who's wristshot made it past Ferris goaltender Justin Kapelmaster to tie the game at 1-1.
Ferris' Coale Norris posted his third goal of the season at the 11:37 mark which not only counted as a power play goal but the game-winning tally at that. FSU's Ryker Killins, Taylor Fernandez and Norris found themselves on a 3-on-1 odd-man rush entering the Nanook defensive zone before Norris' wristshot went blocker side on Alaska's sophomore goaltender
Anton Martinsson.
The Bulldogs sealed the victory with an empty-net goal from Mitch Maloney at the 19:00 mark of the third period.
The Nanooks were outshot by the home team 36-23 with Martinsson collecting 33 saves on the night while Kapelmaster tallied 22 against the Nanooks.
The Alaska Nanooks hockey team will take on the Ferris State Bulldogs in another WCHA matchup at the Ewigleben Ice Arena tomorrow (Saturday), Nov. 11. Puck-drop is slated for 3:07pm AKST.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team on Facebook.
