Ferris State Hockey Triumphs Over Lake State in First Overtime Contest of the Season

Big Rapids, Mich. – The Ferris State University men's ice hockey team defeated Lake Superior State University 4-3 Saturday (Nov. 22) in its first overtime game of the year.

Xavier Jean-Louis scored his first career game-winning goal as FSU claimed the extra Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) point against LSSU in the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

The Bulldogs (3-11-0, 2-6-0 CCHA) got multi-point performances from Jack Silich (1-1-2) and Christopher Lie (0-2-2) in the win and goaltender Noah Rupprecht returned from a month-long absence to record his first win as a Bulldog.

Silich scored his first goal of the season at 3:49 in the first period to put FSU up 1-0. Nic Belpedio cleared the Bulldog zone with a pass to Silich at center ice where Silich then had a breakaway opportunity and made a great move to flick a shot past LSSU goaltender Rorke Applebee. Belpedio collected his third assist of the year on Silich's goal.

Branden Piku tied the game for Lake State at 16:43 with John Herrington and Luke Levandowski assisting. The score was tied 1-1 heading into the intermission.

LSSU got the first goal in period two on Ryan Beck's first of the year at 2:25. William Ahlrik and Samuel Belanger assisted.

Caden Brown lit the lamp for his second goal this year at 12:52 in period two. Carter Rapalje took a shot that rebounded out to Lie at the point. Lie passed down the wall to Brown who skated above the circles and fired a shot to the top-right corner and tied the game. Rapalje got his third assist of the year and extended his point streak to three games. Lie collected his team-leading sixth assist as FSU tied the game 2-2.

Max Dukovac scored his first goal as a Bulldog at 3:26 in the third to reclaim a lead for Ferris State. Lie ripped a shot from the left point off the backboards that bounced across to Silich who fired a shot that Applebee saved. Dukovac dove to the backside for the rebound and slapped the puck into the net. Silich got his second assist of the year and Lie tallied his third of the weekend, seventh this year.

Herrington tied the game again for LSSU at 5:31 with a power play conversion. Evan Bushy and Hunter Ramos assisted.

The score remained tied after regulation, sending the Bulldogs to their first overtime game this year. Jean-Louis won it at 1:07 with his second goal of the year and first career game-winner. The Lakers turned the puck over at center ice and Gavin Best picked up the puck, skated into the left circle and passed back to Jean-Louis for the shot from the high slot. Best got his third assist of the season on the play.

For the game, FSU had 27 shots on goal to LSSU's 25 and went 0-2 on the power play and 1-2 on the penalty kill. Lake State had 31 faceoff wins compared to 28 for Ferris State. The Bulldogs blocked 11 shots and the Lakers blocked 16.

Jean-Louis led the Bulldogs with three blocked shots and John Lundy paced the team with five shots on goal. Belpedio and Best each contributed two blocked shots while Silich and Rapalje each had three shots on goal. Lie and Dukovac both finished the game +2.

Lie finished with the second multi-point game of his season and career while Silich also had his first multi-point effort this year. Rupprecht tallied his first win as a Bulldog with a 22-save performance.

Ferris State is off next week and will return to action Dec. 5 against Minnesota State. Puck drop is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. (ET) from Mankato with pregame coverage beginning on Sunny 97.3 FM at 7:30 p.m. (ET).