Lake Superior tops OSU in Scoring Spree

Preseason analysis and first game jitters be damned, Lake Superior State’s offense, as well as Ohio State’s offense, stepped up Saturday night to show the scoring prowess that we have been waiting for. With Saturday’s win the Lakers where able to break a 14 game winless streak against Ohio State, including being shut out in their past three games. The first period of the game was played at a fast and furious pace seeing the Lakers score three goals and a total 5 goals scored in all. Freshman Nik Sellers opened the scoring for the Lakers just 2:26 into the first period by deflecting in a shot from Simon Gysbers with assists going to classmates Gysbers and Pat Aubry. Ohio State was able to tie the game at 1-1 with Andrew Schembri scoring a power play goal as Sellers was sitting out two for hooking. Josh Sim was able to regain the lead for the Lakers with a power play goal of their own at 16:19 of first putting a wrist shot top corner, glove side past OSU’s goaltender Joseph Palmer from the slot off a pass from Troy Schwab, Derek A. Smith got on the score sheet with the second assist on the goal. Freshman Matt Martello was able to knock in a rebound less than 30 seconds later (16:48) to give the Lakers a two goal lead (3-1) with assists going to Steven Kaunisto, who had the original shot, and Trent Campbell. Ohio State’s Tommy Goebel was able to pull the Buckeyes to within one with just under three minutes remaining in the period (17:12) Ohio State started the second period on the power play, after Derek R. Smith was called for hitting from behind at 19:11 of the first period. Ohio State was able to capitalize with the extra man with Domenic Maiani scoring just 56 seconds into the second period. Lake Superior State was able to regain the lead, 4 to 3, with Freshman John Scrymgeour scoring at 12:39 of the second period with Troy Schwab getting an assist on the play. Ohio State was able tie the game again (4-4) scoring a short handed goal, their second of the weekend with just 15 seconds remaining in the second period, OSU forward Mathieu Beaudoin was credited with the goal. Laker freshman goaltender Pat Inglis misplayed the shot by not coming out to challenge Beaudoin who was coming down the right side of the ice after Barnabas Birkeland forced him to the outside, the puck when stick side on Inglis after he failed to cut off the angle. LSSU was able to gain their fourth lead of the game just over two minutes (2:08) into the second period when Dan Eves scored with assists going to Nik Sellers and Laker Captain Barnabas Birkeland after Sellers won a faceoff back to Birkeland who got the puck to Eves. OSU’s Beaudoin was able to score his second goal of the game midway through the third period (10:06) on five minute power play called against Dan Eves for checking from behind in which we was also assessed a game misconduct and shown the door for. Freshman Nathan Perkovich scored his first goal as a Laker at 13:13 of the third period on the power play to give the Lakers their fifth lead of the game, assists went to Steven Kaunisto and Trent Campbell. Ohio State was looking down and out when they pulled freshman goaltender Joseph Palmer with 1:10 remaining in the game. OSU’s Beaudoin was able to knock in the puck in a scramble in front of the net with less than 1 second remaining in the game, 19:59 of the third period, to tie the game at 6-6. A video review of the play confirmed that the goal was in before the final horn sounded. LSSU and OSU where both able to muster two shots in the overtime period, the Laker’s Dominic Osman was able to capitalize on their opportunities putting in the game winner at 2:45 of the period off a rebound from a shot by Derek R. Smith, with assists going to Smith and Schwab. The Lakers never trailed in the game but they surrendered their lead five times. The teams where even in shots for the game with totals coming in at 34 to 35 with OSU having the slight lead, again LSSU dominated the first period putting up 16 shots against 8 shots for OSU. LSSU fell off as the game went on and they where only able to muster 16 more shots in regulation time, plus the 2 shots that they got in the overtime period. The Lakers where on the short end in the faceoff circle quite a bit this game with the Lakers losing 31 faceoffs and only winning 23. Schwab saw the most faceoff action going 9 for 24 in the circle. Special teams play dominated the score sheet with the Lakers going 2 for 7 on the power play, making them 2 for 14 for the weekend. The Lakers also surrendered their second shorthanded goal of the season. LSSU gave up 3 power play goals and 6 power play opportunities; one slightly bright spot was only giving up one goal while on a 5 minute penalty kill. LSSU successfully killed off 8 of 11 short handed situations. Freshman Pat Inglis played adequately in goal recording the win with 29 saves, but giving up 6 goals, including a couple of goals he would probably like to have back. Look for him to get significant playing time the next two weeks at Clarkson and against American International during Great Lake State Weekend Freshman Nik Sellers, Matt Martello, John Scrymgeour, and Nathan Perkovich each scored their first goals as Lakers in the game. Troy Schwab recorded three assists in the game and Trent Campbell had two assists. Dan Eves scored his first goal of the season but will miss next Friday’s contest at Clarkson due to the game misconduct that he received for checking from behind. The Lakers travel to Potsdam, N.Y. next weekend to take on Clarkson University.