Western Michigan returned home Saturday to a reversal of fortune. After falling 4-1 Friday night on the road against Ferris State, the Broncos dropped the Bulldogs 3-2 before a sellout crowed at Lawson Arena.
Brent Walton’s goal at 15:57, which gave his club a two-goal edge, proved to be the game winner as the Broncos stopped a three-game skid and moved into fourth place in the CCHA standings.
“I was very pleased with our effort; I thought it was a well-played game by both teams,” said WMU head coach Jim Culhane.
Jeff Legue’s shorthanded effort with 40 seconds to play brought FSU within one, but it was not enough as Bronco goaltender Scott Foster made 25 saves on the night, just a week after surrendering six goals in his last start against Michigan.
Derek Nesbitt spoiled the shutout bid for Foster at 14:53 of the third with a high wrister from the top of the right circle.
“Tonight I thought Foster was really on his game,” said FSU head coach Bob Daniels. “I’m disappointed that we didn’t win, but I’m not disappointed in the way the kids played tonight. We could have won just as easily.”
First-period action saw both sides struggle on offense, as the teams combined to put just seven shots on goal.
Following the lackluster opening period, Pat Dwyer tiptoed into the zone and dropped the puck for Lucas Drake, who slammed into home as he crashed the net, putting the Broncos up one after two.
After going 0-for-2 with the man advantage through the first two periods, Pat Dwyer found the back of the net with a low shot along the ice that beat Ferris goalie Mike Brown five-hole, for the lone power-play goal of the game.
Ferris battled back late in the third, with Nesbitt’s goal cutting the deficit to one, but Walton answered just over a minute later, while the Legue goal proved to be too little too late.
Both clubs will to take their games on the road next weekend as Western Michigan prepares to face off against Northern Michigan, while Ferris State takes on Ohio State.
