BIG RAPIDS, Mich.- Lake Superior State gave up four third-period goals before falling 5-2 to the Ferris State Bulldogs during the first game of the weekend Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.

The Lakers (3-16-0, 3-10-0 WCHA) will look for the split during Saturday night's game to keep up in the WCHA standings. FSU improved to 8-7-1 overall and 5-4-0 in the WCHA.

Austin McKay (4-0--0) netted his fourth goal of the season for the Lakers to tie the game at 1-1 with 26 seconds remaining in the second period. Bryce Schmitt (6-6--12) and Chris Ciotti (4-3--7) added the assists on the tying goal.

The game remained tied halfway through the third period, despite the Lakers having a five-on-three advantage early on in the final frame. Following a slashing call against Nathan Harris (1-2--3), Schmitt intercepted a loose puck and went the length of the ice, unassisted, to score LSSU's first short-handed goal of the season with 10:51 remaining in the period.

The Bulldogs responded just 12 seconds later with a goal by Dominic Panetta, tying the game, 2-2.  The Bulldogs went on to score three more goals during the final 5:25 of the game including an empty-netter that put the game out of reach 4-2 at 17:52.

In net for the Lakers was once again Gordon Defiel (3-14-0), who made 37 saves while allowing the four goals. CJ Motte started for the Bulldogs and turned aside 26 of the 28 Laker attempts.

The squads will once again square of in the second game of the two-game series. Puck drop is slated for 7:07 pm ET.

Final FSU 5 - LSSU 2