FERRIS STATE DOWNS ARMY, 5-2

Matt Verdone scored a career-high four goals to lead Ferris State to a 5-2 win over Army in the consolation game of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede Saturday night in front of 1,100 spectators at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb.

Army’s Bryce Hollweg and Brady Dolim each scored their second goal in as many nights in the third period, but it was a little too little and a little too late for the Black Knights. Hollweg’s marker made it 3-1,while Dolim closed out the scoring in the final two minutes of the tilt.

Dolim’s second goal of the season matched his total from a year ago, and Hollweg’s second tally gives him a new career high.

Verdone finished off his hat trick with eight minutes left in the contest and potted his fourth with just under four minutes left, restoring the Bulldogs’ three-goal lead.

The Black Knights (0-2) played 8:02 of the opening period short-handed as they were whistled for six penalties in the first 13 minutes of the game. As a result, the Cadets fell behind and could never gain any type of momentum to climb back into the contest.

The teams skated five aside for just 5:58 of the first 20 minutes in all as 10 infractions were called. For the game, a grand total of 20 penalties were handed out to the sum of 62 minutes.

Ferris State finally broke through with the game’s initial goal at 14:20 of the first period. The Bulldogs took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play to gain a 1-0 lead. Army had successfully killed off 1:46 of Ferris State’s previous two-man advantage penalty time. However, Dan Riedel eventually beat Black Knights’ netminder Brad Roberts to give the Bulldogs its lead.

Ferris State outshot Army, 12-3, in the opening frame as a result of the lopsided power play situations. The Bulldogs tacked on another goal with 15 seconds left in the first on a short-handed breakaway by Verdone. He also added an even-strength goal at 7:38 of the second period for the only tally of the middle stanza.

Roberts stopped 29 Bulldog shots in a losing effort. Ferris State goalie Mitch O’Keefe made 11 saves to pick up his first college win in goal.

Tournament host and defending champion Nebraska-Omaha faced No. 8 New Hampshire in the championship game of the Mutual of Omaha Stampede following the Army-Ferris State game.

Army will return to the friendly confines of Tate Rink and West Point on Fri., Oct. 21 for its home opener of the 2005-06 campaign against No. 16 Colgate.