The 2018-19 season continues to find new ways to bite the Chargers.
Dominic Lutz scored 56 seconds into overtime to lift Ferris State to a 6-5 victory over UAH at the Von Braun Center on Friday.
The five goals were a season high for UAH (3-18-0 overall, 3-10-0 WCHA), who fell to 1-9-0 in one-goal games this season, though most of them of the 2-1 variety.
Ferris State (6-14-1, 3-9-1) moved ahead of the Chargers for eighth place in the WCHA standings. UAH will try to return the favor Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Propst Arena.
The Bulldogs fired the first six shots on goal in an early game flurry before the Chargers finally cooled things down.
But Ferris State would strike first on a 3-on-1 break following a turnover, as Jacob Hetz beat Mark Sinclair from the left side with 5:15 left in the first period.
Sinclair couldn’t do much to stop that one, but was up to the task on 14 other FSU shots in the period. UAH was able to step it up thanks to a power play, but still ended up empty by intermission.
It was an off night for Sinclair overall, however, as the sophomore allowed a season-high-tying six goals to making 29 saves.
Things really opened up in the second period, with each team scoring three times.
UAH tied the game up at 1-1 at 4:43. Hans Gorowsky stole the puck in the offensive zone and drove through the slot toward FSU goaltender Roni Salmenkangas’s right. Just before reaching the goal line, Gorowsky deflected the puck off Salmenkangas’s skate and in for his second goal of the season.
Nate Kallen regained the lead for Ferris State with a five-hole goal at the 7:42 mark.
The Chargers equalized again at 2-2 at 10:38. On a 3-on-1 break, John Teets’s shot was stopped by Salmenkangas, but the rebound was knocked in mid-air by Bauer Neudecker. It’s the fourth goal of the season for the freshman.
FSU took the lead for the third time just 16 seconds later when Coale Norris beat Sinclair on a breakaway.
UAH then tied the game for the third time with 5:28 left in the second period. During a delayed penalty, Adam Wilcox tipped Kurt Gosselin’s shot through traffic for a 3-3 game.
It was Wilcox’s first goal of the season. Gosselin, playing in his first game since Oct. 27 after being out with a broken hand, got his third assist, and Jesper Ohrvall got his seventh helper.
The Bulldogs had the lead yet a fourth time when Lutz scored from the high slot with 59 seconds left in the period.
UAH tied it up for yet a fourth time at 5:39 of the third period. Brandon Salerno breaks away and tucks the puck around a sprawling Salmenkangas for his third goal of the season. Ohrvall and Andrew Dodson with the assists.
This time, the Chargers would not give the lead back. Thirty-six seconds later, UAH took its first lead at 5-4 when Austin Beaulieu finished a tic-tac-toe goal with Christian Rajic and Gorowsky.
Ferris State answered with 8:52 left in regulation, when Jake Transit scored from the right circle without an assist to tie the game at 5-5.
Salerno thought he had won the game for the Chargers with about 49 seconds left in regulation. The goal light had gone on but the officials quickly waved it off, allowing play to continue to the end of the third period. Video review confirmed the call.
Lutz then scored his second goal of the game in overtime to take the win for the Bulldogs.
Ferris State outshot UAH 35-30 for the game. Salmenkangas finished with 25 saves.
Three Stars:
1. Dominic Lutz, FSU (2 goals, 1 assist, GWG in OT)
2. Hans Gorowsky, UAH (1 goal, 1 assist)
3. Jesper Ohrvall, UAH (2 assists)
Photo: Brandon Salerno scores his second period goal. Photo by Todd Thompson/RiverCat Photography