MARQUETTE, Mich. – A power play goal from senior defenseman Mitch Jones with 3:43 left in the second period lifted the No. 20 Northern Michigan University hockey team to a 2-0 victory over visiting No. 16 Ferris State in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action Saturday at the Berry Events Center.

The Wildcats improved to 6-1-1 overall with a 3-1-0 WCHA record while Ferris State slipped to 4-5-0 with a 1-3-0 league mark.

Jones goal came on an assist from sophomore forward Darren Nowick. Jones one-timed the pass from Nowick hitting the net high in the far corner.

Freshman forward Robbie Payne then scored his first goal in an NMU jersey on assists from sophomore forward Dominik Shine and senior forward Ryan Kesti at the 6:53 mark of the third period. Payne fired a shot back into the net after Kesti's shot ricocheted off the post.  

"You saw two good teams with two really good goalies. It was tough to lose it last night but tonight I think our defensive effort was much better and our management of the puck was better," said NMU head coach Walt Kyle. "Last night we gave them a lot of counter opportunities which we didn't give them tonight."

Payne led the Wildcats with four shots while Jason Brikley led the Bulldogs with six. Freshman defenseman Jordan Klimek, senior forward Reed Seckel and Shine each recorded three shots for NMU.

Sophomore goalie Mathias Dahlstrom recorded his sixth career shutout and third of the season making 24 saves in the contest. Ferris State goalie CJ Motte made 25 saves in net for the Bulldogs.

NMU outshot Ferris State 27-24 including a 10-5 margin in the second period. NMU was 1-4 on the power play and held Ferris State without a power play goal on their five opportunities.

The Wildcats take next weekend off before spending back-to-back weeks in Alaska taking on Alaska-Anchorage Nov. 21-22 and Alaska Nov. 28-29.