Ferris State tops Alaska Anchorage to advance to WCHA final
By Pat Evans –
GRAND RAPIDS – A quick start led to a quick finish, with a lull in-between as Ferris State beat Alaska Anchorage in overtime, 5-4, to advance to the WCHA final game on Saturday.
Ferris State jumped to an early 2-0 lead, gave up four straight goals, and battled back to win in overtime.
“It was a very weird game. We jumped out to a lead, even though I didn’t think we were playing that well,” Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels said. “From there, we hibernated for a period, until we fell behind. It was a highly unusual game. Maybe it came too easy and we didn’t kick it in until we fell behind.”
Ferris State set the tempo early, as the Bulldogs seemed to jump ahead at a unmatchable rate.
Gerald Mayhew put Ferris State up when he scored a power-play goal from Alaska Anchorage goalie Rob Gunderson’s right side 4:41 into the period.
About two minutes later, as Justin Buzzeo was about to lose the puck, he stopped at the edge of the right circle, regained control and slapped a shot above Gunderson’s left shoulder.
With the beautiful goal from Buzzeo and stellar netminding from Hobey Baker Finalist CJ Motte — stopping 12 of 13 shots in the first — it looked as though Ferris State might cruise into the tournament’s final game.
Mayhew hit the left post on a breakaway, and kept the Bulldogs cheering for a blowout.
“When you’re playing one of the top teams in the country, that mountain you have to climb gets higher when they get a lead on you,” Alaska Anchorage head coach Matt Thomas said.
But the momentum switched as Alaska Anchorage started peppering Motte with shots, starting with a Alaska Anchorage goal 8:31 into the period, when Brett Cameron found the back of the net.
The Seawolves carried the momentum into the second period, continuing to pelt Motte with shots and scoring three goals in the period.
Seawolves defenseman Austin Coldwell knocked one from right in front of the net past Motte with 7:16 off the clock in the period.
A minute later, forward Zack Rassell scored when Motte couldn’t corral a save and the freshman knocked the puck in to tie it up with 12 minutes left in the period.
The game had fully changed momentum when Alaska Anchorage freshman Hudson Friesen gave the Seawolves a 4-2 lead as he found the net from the right circle.
“We had a lot of momentum going up 4-2, it was a really good period for us,” forward Matt Bailey said. “[Motte is] a really good goalie, but just any goalie it’s frustrating if you get into his face, for any goalie that’s tough. That’s what you have to do at this time of the year.”
But four straight goals weren’t enough to keep Alaska Anchorage on top.
Just seconds after making passing his first real test of the period, Gunderson surrendered a goal from right in front of him as Ferris State winger Garrett Thompson pushed one in with about seven minutes remaining in the middle frame.
Two minutes later, defenseman Jason Brinkley rushed up the right side and sent a pass flying into the crease and forward Andy Huff knocked it in past Gunderson to tie the game up heading into the third period.
The scoring came to a screeching halt in the third period, as both teams went through the period without finding the back of the net.
“CJ [Motte] earned high marks in the third period and overtime,” Ferris State head coach Bob Daniels said. “If you think back, it speaks to the type of goalie he is. After the second period, he was really solid. Clean is the way I like to put it in the way played.”
Overtime went by quickly, as Mayhew scored off a face-off 2:38 into the extra period.
“I told keener I’m going to throw it at the net, be there,” Mayhew said. “He won it, I shot it, hoped it hit the net and it went in.”
Ferris State takes the ice Saturday night at 7 p.m. against Minnesota State for the WCHA Championship at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.