Late Rally Falls Short At Ferris, 2-1

Jan. 27, 2011

Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State jumped out to an early lead and used solid play from goalie Pat Nagle to hold on for a 2-1 victory over visiting Michigan State on Thursday evening. Drew Palmisano was the Spartans' brightest star for the third straight game, making 14 first-period saves and keeping MSU close enough to stage a dangerous late rally. Daultan Leveille had the lone goal for MSU, which dropped its second straight game after going 4-1-1 in its previous six contests.

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"We really got it going there in the third, but we had a chance because Palmisano was just so good early to keep us in it," said head coach Rick Comley after the game. "I had hoped that the solid play we had in the third period against Miami on Saturday would carry over. We started slow for sure, but got it going in the third. Their goalie made some fantastic saves when we did pressure them well in the third."

The opening 20 minutes belonged solely to the home team. The Bulldogs opened the scoring just 2:32 into the period, when Chad Billins sent a long outlet pass from behind his own blueline to Jordie Johnston, who broke in alone. Johnston deked and got Palmisano to commit to his right, leaving an open side for Johnston to get the puck to his backhand and deposit his fifth goal of the season. They added to their lead with a power play goal at 14:04, a sharp-angle shot by Zach Redmond from low in the right circle.

The second period was marginally better for the Spartans, as the two teams each had eight shots on net. MSU was buzzing in the third, lifted by three power-play chances and solid play in both ends. The Spartans had some good chances, but Nagle was strong, stymieing MSU with several quality saves.

The Green & White finally broke up the shutout with just under five minutes remaining in regulation. MSU had its third power-play chance of the period, and Zach Josepher's blast from the high point was tipped by Zach Golembiewski at the left point, then put away by Daultan Leveille at the left post for his seventh goal of the season.

Ferris takes the season series by a 3-1 margin.

MSU finishes off another season series this Saturday, when the Spartans play Michigan at Joe Louis Arena. Gametime is 8 p.m.