BOX SCORE

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (1/7/12) – The nationally-ranked Colgate men's hockey team dropped the second game of a two-game set at 17th-ranked Ferris State by a 3-1 score on Saturday afternoon.

Colgate (12-6-2) didn't have a good trip to Michigan, losing two-straight for the first time this season. Austin Smith was the lone bright spot as he scored his 20th goal of the year and extended his point streak to 11 games. Chris Wagner and Eric Mihalik were given the assists on the Raiders' lone goal. Mihalik pushed aside 27 shots in the loss.

The Bulldogs (13-8-1) got a goal and assist apiece from Travis Ouellette and Garrett Thompson. Matthew Kirzinger scored the gamewinner in the second frame. Taylor Nelson earned starts in both games this weekend and came away with two wins after posting 27 stops.

The first period was a lot cleaner than last night's contest as neither team committed a penalty. The Bulldogs had an 9-5 shot advantage in the first and the Raiders couldn't get a lot of pressure on Nelson as they went about 10 minutes without a shot on goal.

The Bulldogs took the first lead of the game at 1-0 just 54 seconds into the second period. They took advantage of a Raider miscue in its own end and Ouellette made the Raiders pay. The puck came off the end boards and Mihalik tried to recover, but Ouellette put it past the netminder. Jordie Johnston continued to be a Raider killer with his four point of the weekend with an assist on the play.

Smith then scored his 20th goal of the season on a 2-on-1 rush with Joe Wilson. He toe-dragged the puck from forehand to backhand and went top self to beat Nelson to tie the game. Mihalik was given an assist on the play for his second career point and first of the season. Wagner was awarded the other assist and Smith extended his streak to a career-high 11 games with the goal.

Kirzinger regained the lead for the Bulldogs at 2-1 as he joined a 2-on-2 transition rush in the offensive zone. Thompson had the puck and saw Kirzinger charging into the zone. Thompson waited as the defense committed to his potential shot and he dropped a pass to his linemate. Kirzinger then fired a shot that Mihalik got to, but the puck found its way past the netminder with the goal coming 10:08 left in the second period. The Raiders had a great chance in the final two minutes with a 3-on-1 opportunity. Smith got a pass to Spiro Goulakos, but the puck eluded the defenseman's stick and the chance was missed.

Ferris State extended its lead to 3-1 just 24 seconds into the third period and Colgate gave up its first shorthanded goal of the season as the Raiders were on the power play to begin the period. Ouellette won a battle in the neutral zone and got the puck in the offensive zone. He and a Colgate player went down and the puck came free to Thompson in front of the net. He got Mihalik to commit to his first move and he put a backhander into the open net. The offense showed some bright spots during the third with a 14-11 shot advantage, but couldn't get the puck past Nelson and the game finished with a 3-1 loss for the Raiders.

The Bulldogs had the advantage in shots by a close 30-28 margin. Each team went 0-for-2 on the power play in a clean game.

The Raiders will be back in action next weekend as they jump back into league play with visits to Princeton and Quinnipiac. A reminder to fans that Skate with the Raiders is set for Jan. 18 from 6-7 p.m. at Starr Rink.

NOTES: Smith has 11 goals and eight assists for 19 points during his 11-game point streak … Smith is the first 20-goal scorer since Brian Day '11 had 21 in 2009-10 … Colgate and its opponent went scoreless in the first period for just the third time this season …  first time this season Colgate has lost two-straight games … the Raiders finish with a 1-3 record against CCHA teams this year … Colgate held to one goal for only the third time this season … the Raiders remain winless when trailing after two periods at 0-3-1 … Colgate is currently 3-4-1 against ranked teams … two of the goals tonight were scored in the first minute of play in the last two periods … Ferris State held Military Appreciation Night and honored multiple military personnel during the game.