Mariucci Classic: Ferris State defeats RPI 6-2 to win first semifinal

For the first five minutes of the second period RPI (8-7-4, 3-3-3 ECAC) looked like it was going to tie the game at 2. Then the opposition showed why its 15 game unbeaten streak was no joke.

Ferris State put distance between it and the Engineers with two goals in 1:01 en route to a (final) win.The first, a bad giveaway by RPI behind the net, Kenny Babinski set up Chad McDonald for an easy goal during a stretch of four-on-four play. When the Bulldogs penalty expired, Matt Robertson banked a shot off of Engineers goalie Scott Diebold, who stopped 24 shots, from behind the net.

Robertson recorded four points (2G-2A) Friday. December National Player of the Month C.J. Motte made 32 saves for Ferris State; including a breakaway stop of Zach Schroeder. Bulldogs forwards Garrett Thompson and Justin Buzzeo each had a goal and an assist while Travis White also scored for FSU.

Milos Bubela had a goal for RPI, whose winless streak stretches to three games, and Mike Zalewski scored his third goal of the season shorthanded in the third period.

With the win, Ferris State (15-2-3, 10-0-2 WCHA) faces the winner of the Minnesota and Colgate played later tonight on Saturday evening.

The Engineers face the loser of the same game in the consolation round Saturday at 4:00 p.m. CT.

Scoring:

First Period:

FERRIS STATE - Garrett Thompson (10) (Matt Robertson, Ryan Lowney 7:06)

FERRIS STATE - Justin Buzzeo (9) (Thompson, Robertson 13:45 PP)

RPI - Milos Bubela (2) (Matt Neal, Jacob Laliberte 17:24 PP)

Second Period:

FERRIS STATE - Chad McDonald (5) (Kenny Babinski 7:03)

FERRIS STATE - Matt Robertson (9) (Brandon Anselmin, Kyle Schempp 8:04)

Third Period:

FERRIS STATE - Travis White (1) (Buzzeo, Sean O'Rourke 1:23)

RPI - Mike Zalewski (3) (Chris Bradley, Guy Laboeuf 11:13 SHG)

FERRIS STATE - Robertson (Zac Dorer, Schempp 17:00 ENG)

Shots:

RPI 11- 11 - 12 -- 34

FSU 9 - 11 - 10 -- 30

Three Stars: 1) Matt Robertson (FSU) 2) Garrett Thompson (FSU) 3) Justin Buzzeo (FSU)

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Nathan Wells is a college hockey columnist for SB Nation and College Hockey News. You can also follow him on Twitter -- Follow @gopherstate