Michigan State hockey sweeps Ferris State with 3-1 win

The Michigan State hockey team got its second sweep of the season with a 3-1 victory over Ferris State on Saturday night at Ewigleben Ice Arena in Big Rapids.

Brennan Sanford, Mitchell Lewandowski and Carson Gatt scored for the Spartans, who improved to 7-5 on the season.

“We knew there was going to be a lot of energy on the other side – they’re coming home after a tight game last night and they had some momentum even though we won in overtime," said MSU coach Danton Cole. "So, I thought we matched that momentum early and the guys did a decent job.”

With Ferris State on a 5-on-3 man-advantage in the late stages of the first period, the Spartans turned the tables as Sanford found the back of the net for MSU’s first shorthanded tally of the season.

The Spartans capitalized on a power-play chance in a penalty-filled second period, making it 2-0 at the 8:05 mark.

Moments after Ferris State goaltender Kapelmaster denied a one-timer from Lewandowski, the freshman got a second chance in nearly the exact same spot near the right circle and didn’t miss. Lewandowski hammered a perfect feed from Taro Hirose into the net to double the Spartans’ lead.

The Bulldogs eventually took advantage of their fifth power play of the game early in the third period as Corey Mackin swept a rebound past Lethemon at the 2:21 mark.

Gatt reestablished the Spartans’ two-goal lead with 8:40 to play in the third period. Patrick Khodorenko got a pass to Gatt at the left point where the senior defenseman was able to get enough on a wobbling puck to lift it into the top corner.

MSU goaltender Lethemon finished with 29 stops to earn his seventh win of the season.

The Spartans resume Big Ten play next weekend when they travel to Penn State to meet the Nittany Lions on Friday and Saturday.

- MSU Athletic Communications