GREEN BAY, Wisc. - For the first time in program history, the Ferris State University men's ice hockey will be making an appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four and competing for a national championship as the Bulldogs defeated Cornell 2-1 in the Midwest Regional final on Saturday, March 24 night at the Resch Center.
The Bulldogs have compiled a 25-11-5 record thus far in the 2011-12 season while Cornell ended their season with a 19-9-7 overall record.
The thrilling game started with two scoreless periods. Sophomore forward Garrett Thompson (Traverse City) got on the board first as he netted his 10th goal of the season eleven seconds into the third period as the Bulldogs had time left over from a second period Cornell penalty. The play started as Jordie Johnston (Rosetown, Saskatchewan) skated through the zone and got a shot on that was deflected wise. Junior forward Matthew Kirzinger (Leroy, Saskatchewan) then put the puck in front of a wide open net for Thompson to slam home.
Cornell answered back at the 18:28 mark as Dustin Mowrey scored on a bad turnover from the Bulldog squad to tie the game up at 1-1.
Ferris went on to make the score 2-1 at the 6:54 mark of the third period as sophomore Andy Huff (Howell) took the puck from the neutral zone and skated to a 2-on-1, as he found Johnston in front of the net who shot it top shelf over the Cornell netminder. Sophomore forward Cory Kane (Irvine, Calif.) also tallied a helper.
For the Bulldogs, senior netminder Taylor Nelson (Regina, Saskatchewan) made 22 saves in the victory. On the other end of the ice Andy Iles made 19 saves for The Big Red.
Ferris went 1-for-5 on the power-play as Cornell went 0-for-6. The Bulldogs served 27 penalty minutes on eight infractions. Cornell served 12 minutes in the box on six penalties.
The Bulldogs will continue their season on April ;5 in Tampa Bay, Fla., as they face Union in the national semifinals .The remaining two teams will be decided in regional final action tomorrow (March 25).