Late charge lifts NMU past Ferris

Big Rapids — The Ferris State University men’s ice hockey team exploded for four first period goals, but were unable to overcome a late charge by the Northern Michigan Wildcats in a 6-4 loss Friday night at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play.

Sophomore forward Corey Mackin tallied his first two goals of the year along with an assist, all in the first period. Freshman forward Craig Pefley netted his first collegiate goal as well.

The Wildcats opened the scoring when Darien Craighead scored his third marker of the year on a power play goal at 5:37 of the first period. Philip Beaulieu and Zach Diamantoni earned assists on the goal.

Mackin responded on the power play two minutes later with a straight shot that beat NMU goaltender Atte Tolvanen cleanly to even the score at 1-1. The goal was Mackin’s first of the season. Pefley earned his seventh assist of the year while senior defenseman Ryan Lowney received his first.

Northern Michigan regained the upper hand when Collin Peters made it 2-1 at 11:48 of the first from Robbie Payne.

Mackin again evened the contest, this time with a shorthanded goal at 12:57 of the opening frame. The sophomore went end to end and ripped a shot underneath the crossbar on the short side for his second goal in 5:20 of action. Junior defenseman Tyler Dorantes tallied his first assist of the year on Mackin’s goal.

Pefley found the scoreboard next for Ferris State, rifling a clean shot through traffic to give Ferris State a 3-2 lead on a power play goal at 14:20 of the opening stanza. Lowney and Mackin each earned assists on Pefley’s first goal.

Senior forward Chad McDonald netted his second goal of the year to give Ferris State a 4-2 lead at 18:33 of the first period. The goal was Ferris State’s only even strength goal of the game.

The Wildcats went on to score the next four goals to take the contest.

Filip Starzynski scored the second period’s lone goal at 13:26 from Casey Purpur and Ryan Black.

Luke Voltin added a power play goal at 5:39 of the third period to tie the game from Philip Beaulieu and Craighead. Denver Pierce then scored the game-winning goal shorthanded and unassisted at 11:10 of the third. Craighead earned his second of the game and third point of the night from Collin Peters at 13:23 of the third.

Ferris State sophomore goaltender Darren Smith took the loss, making 16 saves on 22 shots. Tolvanen made 21 stops on 25 shots for the win.

The Bulldogs went 2-6 on the power play with eight shots, with the Wildcats going 2-8 with only two shots. Ferris State out shot Northern Michigan 25-22 in the game.

Ferris State looks to rebound when the two squads meet up again to wrap up the regular-season series at 7:07 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, inside the Ewigleben Ice Arena.