BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — The Northern Michigan hockey team scored four unanswered goals to dispatch Ferris State, 6-4, Friday night at Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Freshmen factored into four of six goals, helping the Wildcats capture their first WCHA victory of the season and move to 2-3-0 (1-2-0 WCHA) on the season.

In a wild first period, the teams combined to score six of the game's 10 goals, including four on special teams.

Darien Craighead gave Northern Michigan a 1-0 lead at 5:37. On the first man advantage of the game, Philip Beaulieu fired a shot from the point, and Craighead potted the rebound from the left edge of the crease.

The Bulldogs responded with a power-play goal of their own at 7:37. Corey Mackin walked down the edge of the right circle and then laced a shot into the net.

Collin Peters took advantage of a Ferris State turnover to notch his first collegiate goal at 11:48. Peters came up with an ill-timed Nate Kallen pass in the slot and wired a shot into the lower left corner of the net.

The Bulldogs responded with three strikes in a six-minute window. First, Mackin netted his second goal of the game while shorthanded, beating Atte Tolvanen from a sharp angle at 12:57. Then, at 14:20, Craig Pefley gave Ferris State its first lead of the game with a 4-on-3 goal from the edge of the right circle.

Chad MacDonald capped the first period's scoring at 18:33, capitalizing on a Wildcat defensive miscue.

Like the first, the second period was marked by extended time spent on special teams. But, this time, the only goal was scored at even strength.

Filip Starzynski pulled Northern Michigan within one at 13:26. After Ryan Black won a battle along the boards, he shuffled the puck over to Casey Purpur in the slot. Smith saved Purpur's shot, but Starzynski managed to shove the rebound home.

At 5:39 of the final frame, Luke Voltin evened the score. On the Wildcats' first man advantage of the period, Craighead found Beaulieu in the slot. Instead of taking the shot, Beaulieu slid the puck over to Voltin by the left post for the score.

Denver Pierce gave Northern Michigan a 5-4 lead with his first career shorthanded goal. Pierce stripped a Bulldog of the puck, rushed down the ice and then beat Smith top-shelf with a sharp-angle shot.

Craighead put an exclamation mark on the comeback at 13:23, weaving through the Bulldog defense and then roofing a shot past Smith stick side.

NOTES: Northern Michigan leads the all-time series, 54-30-5 ... Tolvanen made 21 saves to earn the victory in net ... The Wildcats last overcame a two-period deficit on Dec. 30, 2015 against Michigan State at the Great Lakes Invitational; Robbie Payne found the back of the net at 3:38 of the extra frame to lift Northern Michigan to a 2-1 victory ... Freshmen accounted for four of the Wildcats' six goals and eight of their 14 points ... Craighead became the fifth Wildcat to net three or more points in the same game with two goals and one assist ... Peters recorded his first collegiate points with a goal and an assist ... With two primary assists, Beaulieu registered his first collegiate points ... With an assist on Craighead's second goal, Rylan Yaremko picked up his first collegiate point ... Starzynski's goal was the second of his career; he last found the back of the net on Oct. 9, 2015 at Wisconsin ...  Craighead's assist on Voltin's goal was the first of his collegiate career; he also netted two goals on Oct. 8 against Wisconsin ... Entering this game, Northern Michigan was 2-for-20 on the man advantage ... Pierce is the second Wildcat to score a shorthanded goal this season, joining Payne, who tied a school record with two against Wisconsin on Oct. 8 ... The Wildcats last allowed a shorthanded goal Feb. 26, 2016 at Lake Superior State.