Spartans Tipped at Ferris, 2-1

Jan. 27, 2012

Big Rapids, Mich. - A defensive battle was waged in Big Rapids on Friday evening, and a third-period TJ Schleter goal stood as the game winner in a 2-1 Ferris State victory over Michigan State. Matt Berry had the lone score for the Spartans, who had their four-game unbeaten streak snapped. Will Yanakeff made 28 saves on the evening as MSU falls to 13-10-4, 8-8-3-2 in CCHA play.

The Spartans were playing their first true road game since Dec. 9, and got a toe-to-toe, tight battle throughout. Ferris had a slight edge in shots on goal (30), and went 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Spartans went 1-for-4, snapping an 0-for-28 stretch without an extra-man marker for the Spartans.

It took more than 37 minutes of hockey - and a lengthy video review - for the game to see its first score. Berry carried the puck up the right side, deked around a defender in the right circle as he drove to the net, and flipped the puck past Taylor Nelson. A defender shoved Berry into the netminder, which had the officials waving off the goal. A lengthy review ensued, but replay showed it was a good goal and the on-ice call was overturned. The Bulldogs got the goal back with a power-play goal of their own with 17 seconds remaining in the period. Chad Billins had the wrist shot that made its way through traffic and beat a screened Yanakeff over his right shoulder. The Billins marker sent the teams into the locker room tied at one.

The home team took its first lead of the night at 13:30, as TJ Schlueter `s shot from the right circle found its mark. Derek Graham's cross-slot pass set up the goal. Both teams pressed for a score over the balance of the game, but both goalies were up to the task and both teams were disruptive to the other team's efforts down the stretch. Yanakeff headed to the bench for the final minute of play, but the Ferris State defense did a nice job of not allowing the Spartans to get much set up in their offensive zone to hold on for the one-goal victory.

Taylor Nelson made 23 saves for Ferris in the victory.

The teams will face off on Saturday at 7 p.m. to conclude the two-game series.