LSSU Settles for Split in Ann Arbor

Bad bounces for the Lakers early in the game cost the Lake Superior State University a sweep over the University of Michigan on Saturday night. The University of Michigan jumped out to an early lead with Brandon Kaleniecki throwing the puck toward the net during a scramble for the puck early in the first period (3:49); the puck hit Laker goaltender Jeff Jakaitis in the leg and bounced into the net. Midway through the period (11:42) Kaleniecki found himself with the puck right in front of Jakaitis again, this time Kaleniecki’s tripped over his own stick sending him airborne, on his way to the ground he was able to shuffle the puck toward the Laker goal where it slipped by Jakaitis to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead. Andrew Ebbertt added insult to injury, at 14:28, by whizzing a 60 foot slap shot past the Laker goaltender to give U of M the 3-0 lead. All three goals where goals that Jakaitis should have stopped and would probably like to have back. Michigan extended it lead to 4-0 with nice passing on the rush finding Tyler Swystun shooting the puck at an open net, at 17:31 of the first period. Lake Superior State battled back, getting 7 shots in the second half of the first period, after not having any shots for nearly the first 11 minutes. With less than 2 minutes remaining in the period Laker Captain Steve McJannet speed into the offensive zone and guided a pass across ice Kory Scoran who found the net behind Michigan goaltender Noah Ruden to get LSSU on the board at 18:29, the other assist went to Jeff Rainville. 34 seconds later Laker Dan Eves backhanded in his 6th goal of the season to cut the lead to 4 to 2, assists went to Derek R. Smith and Nathan Ward. Jim Roque pulled Jakaitis with less than 2 minutes to go in the game but LSSU was unable to mount a substantial offensive attack and fell to U of M 4-2. For the second night in a row Lake Superior went 0 for 2 on the power play while Michigan went 0-4 with the extra man. The Lakers return home Friday, Feb. 17, when they will face Northern Michigan. Then Lakers will travel to Marquette to play the Wildcats Saturday night the 18th. Photo courtesy of www.mgoblue.com