Mesic Scores in Overtime and Helps Ferris State Hockey to Exhibition Win Over Simon Fraser

Plymouth, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team started the weekend at the Kroger College Series with a game against Simon Fraser University Friday (Oct. 17) and pulled out a 3-2 overtime win in exhibition play at USA Hockey Arena.

The Bulldogs (1-3-0) trailed 2-1 through much of the third period, but a late goal from Max Dukovac forced overtime. Jack Mesic scored the eventual game-winning goal with less than a minute to play in overtime, helping the Bulldogs to a weekend-opening victory in exhibition action.

Simon Fraser struck first with a goal from Walker Erickson at 8:48 in the first period. Erickson and Carter Schmidt executed a two-on-one rush with Erickson putting a shot past FSU goaltender Hobie Hedquist. Schmidt and Lucas Ceccarelli assisted as SFU jumped out to a 1-0 lead.

Ferris State tied the game with a second period goal from Emerson Goode. Tanner Rowe won a puck battle in the corner and found Goode low slot for a back-handed shot past SFU goaltender Jesse Makaj. Rowe assisted as Goode tied the game 1-1 at 9:48.

At 14:52, Simon Fraser reclaimed the lead with a power play goal from Ceccarelli. Erickson and Tanner Dawkins assisted as the Red Leafs took a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The Bulldogs picked up their aggression in the third, firing 11 shots on target, their most in any period of the game. Dukovac scored the game-tying goal at 16:11 as he collected the puck above the right-wing circle, skated through the circle and flipped a shot past Makaj, tying the game at 2-2.

Neither team scored in the final 3:49, and overtime commenced. SFU had two early shots in the overtime period, but Hedquist made both saves. At 4:15, Holden Doell fired a shot through the slot that was blocked, and Mesic skated in to rip a shot past Makaj for the game-winner at 4:13. Doell and Dukovac assisted, capping off a two-point performance for Dukovac.

For the game, Hedquist saved 21 of the 23 shots he faced. Goode and Tyler Schleppe led the team with six shots on goal apiece while Doell and Dukovac both finished +2. Mesic, Josh Zary, Jack Silich and Trevor Taulien both finished +1.

As a team, the Bulldogs had 34 shots on goal, went 0-2 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill.

Ferris State will conclude the Kroger College Series Saturday (Oct. 18) against the USNTDP U-18 team. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET) with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 6:30 p.m. (ET). The game will be streamed on USAHockeyTV.com.