LSSU set to play Home-and-Home vs. #14 ranked NMU

The LSSU Lakers unbeaten thru four games are off to their best start since the 1995-96 season. That season, they started 6-0-0 and finished with a 30-8-2 overall record, winning the CCHA regular-season championship. LSSU will start the weekend in Marquette, Michigan against 14th-ranked Northern Michigan University, then finish the weekend on the back half of the home-and-home series at the Taffy Abel Arena. The Lakers did not receive any votes in the USCHO.com/CSTV Division I Men's Poll after a disappointing weekend against Ferris State last weekend. The Lakers are averaging 2.5 goal per game through their first 4 games this season, slightly better than the 2.0 goals per game that they had at this point last year. This can be attributed to playing a much diminished Colgate squad and opening the CCHA schedule against Ferris state rather than the University of Michigan. Even with the increased goal scoring this year the Lakers have only been able to salvage three ties, to go along with their lone win. Last year the Lakers lead the NCAA with 7 ties to tie their own school record from 2003. For the first time in recent history the Lakers are out-shooting their opponents by an average of 5.8 shots per game. NMU is looking to extend their winning streak to 4 games this weekend, will be opening their CCHA season against the Lakers. The Wildcats swept Michigan Tech last weekend, after an impressive performance against St. Cloud State during their opening weekend. LSSU has lost their last three games to NMU, and have not won the season series since the 1999-2000 season, going 4-13-3 since then, including only 3 wins under former coach Frank Anzalone. LSSU trails the all-time series, 23-45-7, including a terrible 8-27-3 record in Marquette and 15-18-4 record at home. Junior forward Trent Campbell had two goals and an assist to lead the Lakers against Northern Michigan last season. Junior forward Jeff Rainville (1-2-3) is riding a three-game scoring streak into this weekend's series; freshman defenseman Marty Gurnoe leads the team in points with four assists. Derek A. Smith and Troy Schwab who had impressive exhibition seasons and were able to carry that success into the opening game vs. Colgate have been held relatively in check the past three games. NMU is lead by, former Soo Indian, sophomore goaltender Bill Zaniboni with a 3-0-0 record and 0.67 goals-against average.