Inconsistent Play Dooms Lakers

Poor play Saturday night on the road again cost Lake Superior State University the opportunity to sweep Bowling Green in CCHA action. The Lakers spotted BGSU 3 in the first half of the game before seeing their third period rally fall short, eventually losing the game 4-2. Despite the Lakers strong play in the first few minutes of the game the Falcons got on the board first with Derek Whitmore putting a backhand shot behind Laker goalie Jeff Jakaitis, 2:53 into the first period, on the short (glove) side. Bowling Green’s Tomas Petruska gave the Falcon’s a 2-0 lead at 9:39 of the second period, after catching Jakaitis mishandling the puck and then giving up a big rebound. Rich Meloche added a third goal for the Falcon’s 23 seconds (10:02) later to give the Faclon’s a 3-0 lead, after Jakaitis juggled the long shot and gave up a rebound right to Meloche. LSSU head coach pulled Jakaitis after BGSU’s third goal of the game in favor of freshman Pat Inglis. Jim Roque was very upset with Jakaitis’ play feeling that he may have cost the Lakers the game as evidenced by the quotes he provided the media after the game. The Lakers came out strong in the third period and where rewarded early with Trent Campbell scoring his second goal of the season on a long wrist shot that went off of the BGSU goalies glove and into the net, giving him a team leading 8 points, early in the third period, 3:08, to give the Lakers some life. Marty Gurnoe and Jeff Rainville received assists on the Campbell goal. Dominic Osman pulled the Lakers to within one, 3-2, with a goal at 9:08 of the third period with Jason Blain getting the only assist on the play. Bowling green was able to put the Lakers away with James Perkin scoring his first goal of the season at 14:21 of the third period to give the Falcons the 4-2 lead over LSSU. Jakaitis made 22 saves on the 25 shots he faced before being pulled at 10:02 of the second period. Inglis made 17 saves on the 18 shots that he faced in relief of Jakaitis. BGSU’s goaltender Jimmy Spratt made 26 saves and gave up 2 goals in the game. The Lakers went 0-for-5 on the power play, mustering only 2 shots on goal. BGSU went 0-for-6 with the extra man, putting 9 shots on goal. LSSU has now scored on the power play in their past 6 games. The Lakers where dominated in the faceoff circle by the Falcons winning only 26 of 69 faceoffs. Perkovich was kept off the scorer’s sheet for only the second time in his college career meaning that he fell one game short of Mike deCarle’s school record for consecutive games with a goal. Although official records are missing to provide complete confirmation, we can be confident is saying that Perkovich has set or tied a record for freshman in this category. The Lakers where even with the Falcons in the faceoff circle with the Lakers holding a slim 31-30 lead. Notes: Bill Crawford and LSSU assistant coach Joe Shawhan drove Justin Gutwald’s car back to the Sault after Justin drove down to Bowling Green on Friday to fill in for Marty Gurnoe and Steven Kaunisto who fell ill on the bus ride down from the Sault.