Big Rapids - Riding the coattails of sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari and the line of sophomore Drew Miller, freshman Chris Mueller and junior Colton Fretter, the MSU hockey team continued its dominance of Ferris State with a weekend sweep.

"That line has been an outstanding line for us," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "The thing that is so encouraging for me is that they're buying time. They're letting other people find themselves.

"That line, every night, has been our best line."

Friday, the Spartans' quick start was too much for the Bulldogs to overcome, as they jumped out to a 3-1 first-period lead to eventually win 4-2. Vicari made 27 saves to pick up his second win of the season.

Saturday, MSU (4-4 overall 3-3 CCHA) routed Ferris State, (2-8, 1-5) scoring the first four goals of the game.

Miller got the Spartans on the board first with a late first-period goal. Off a mad scramble in front, he was able to get the puck past Ferris State goaltender Mike Brown. MSU senior captain Jim Slater and Fretter assisted on the power-play goal.

MSU came out flying in the second period, scoring three goals and burying Brown with 24 shots.

Senior forward Ash Goldie had two chances in front of the Bulldogs' goal and found the back of the net on the second shot for his fourth goal of the season. It was another power-play goal for MSU. Freshman defenseman Tyler Howells picked up his first point of the season with the lone assist.

Then, just past the 11-minute mark of the period, sophomore forward Tommy Goebel, who was able to play after suffering a leg laceration when he was kicked by the Bulldogs' Matt Stefanishion in the third period Friday, was able to stuff the puck past Brown's skate after two previous attempts. Junior forward David Booth and Goldie picked up the assists. It was yet another power-play goal.

"Sometimes, hard work gets rewarded," Comley said of the power play.

Less than four minutes later, freshman defenseman Jeff Dunne sprung Fretter with a breakaway pass, and Fretter deked and threw a backhand over the shoulder of Brown to give MSU the four-goal lead. Mueller picked up the other assist.

"The second period was the key to the game," Fretter said. "We scored a few goals on them and we were just flying, putting a lot of pressure on them."

Vicari's shutout was lost early in the third period when Ferris State forward Jeff Legue scored off a faceoff, but it was too late for the Bulldogs to mount any kind of offense, as their crowd was taken out of the game by the Spartans' relentless play.

"I managed to hold them off," Vicari said. "Our defense played good."

Fretter beat new Ferris State goalie Derek MacIntyre for his sixth goal of the season from Mueller midway through the period to put the game on ice as MSU picked up its first road win of the season.

"It's a good stepping stone for us," Vicari said. "It's something good to build off of. I hope we can carry this on and get a streak going."

Comley said he is optimistic that this is just the first of many big weekends.

"I believe in this hockey team," Comley said. "I believe we'll get it done. We still have some very good players who can't find their stride yet, but when you're winning, it takes some pressure off and it will let them relax next week in practice."