BIG RAPIDS, Mich. – Despite two goals by senior Matt Bailey, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves fell to the nationally-ranked Ferris State Bulldogs, 5-3, Saturday at the Ewigleben Ice Arena in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game.
After trailing 3-0 after 20 minutes of play, the Seawolves (15-13-4, 11-11-4 WCHA) received two, second-period goals by Bailey sandwiched around a Bulldog (23-7-3, 18-4-2 WCHA) tally for a 4-2 disadvantage going into the final stanza. Junior Brett Cameron scored 14 seconds into the third, before FSU added an empty netter for the 5-3 final.
Bailey, who has a career-and team-high 17 goals this season, furnished his 20th multi-point game of his career to keep the Seawolves in the game and in the hunt a series split. A centering pass from junior Scott Allen gave Bailey his first at 6:08, before he capitalized on a 4-on-3 power-play at 14:26.
The Bulldog's – who are undefeated at home in league play at 11-0-1 – second period strike was netted by at 6:38 by Andy Huff, shorthanded.
With just 14 second expired on the clock in the third, Cameron cut the FSU lead to one after getting a piece of Bailey's shot with Allen picking up the secondary assist on the play. The Seawolves continued to look for the equalizer in the final minutes and pulled netminder Rob Gunderson, giving way to the empty-net goal at 19:59 by Chad McDonald.
The Bulldogs' trio of goals in the first came courtesy of Garrett Thompson (8:06), Gerald Mayhew (15:41) and Cory Kane (17:30).
The Seawolves outshot the Bulldogs, 40-31, including a season high 21-7 advantage in the second period. Gunderson made 26 saves, while CJ Motte made 37 stops.
The Seawolves will have a bye weekend before heading to Fairbanks for their final WCHA regular season games at in-state rival Alaska Fairbanks, March 7-8, to conclude the Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup.
