BIG RAPIDS, Mich, - The Lake Superior State University hockey program (8-23-2, 7-17-1 CCHA) came back to defeat the Ferris State Bulldogs (12-17-4, 9-13-3 CCHA) by a final score of 3-2 in overtime after Jake Willets (Monroe, Mich.) slotted home the game-winner.
Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) opened up the scoring at the 8:40 mark of the opening period with his team-leading eleventh goal of the season and seventh on the power play after receiving assists from captain Louis Boudon (Grenoble, France) and Jacob Bengtsson (Stockholm, Sweden) who picked up his 20th assist on the year.
Ferris State was able to knot up the score at 1-1 late in the second period after Caiden Gault was able to find the back of the net with a power play score of his own.
The Bulldogs would face adversity early in the third period having to kill off a five minute major penalty by Matt Slick that included two minutes of five-on-three hockey. However, they would rise to the occasion, killing off the penalties, and the aforementioned Slick would give Ferris State the lead shortly thereafter. Then, a few minutes later, the senior Willets would receive the puck from freshmen Connor Milburn (Kamloops, B.C.) and Bryan Huggins (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and fire it past the Bulldog goaltender for the score, tying the game at 2-2. Both teams would continue to battle for the remainder of the game with strong play on defense, including multiple impressive saves from Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.), as the period came to a close with a winner not yet decided.
With the game on the line, both teams would have multiple quality chances throughout the three-on-three overtime period, but Willets would ultimately prove to be the hero, sneaking the puck through for his second of the night against his former team to give the Lakers their fourth win in six games.
The Lakers will be going for the sweep in game two of the series against the Bulldogs on Saturday, Feb. 25 as they look to continue to build momentum going into the Mason Cup Playoffs the following weekend.