LSSU’s Saturday Struggles Continue

With Saturday’s 4-2 loss Lake Superior State University has seen them selves fail to complete sweeps on three of their past four opportunities. LSSU was unable to capitalize on a five minute power play midway through the first period after Miami of Ohio’s Joe Cooper took a major and a game misconduct for checking from behind. Miami of Ohio was then unable to capitalize on a 2man power play late in their first period when Trent Campbell and Simon Gysbers where both sent off with less than 2 minutes remaining in the period. Miami of Ohio took the lead in the game with Nathan Davis scoring his 10th goal of the season 2:51into the second period. LSSU’s Jeff Rainville scored his 6th goal of the season just over 2 minutes later, at 5:05, to give the Lakers a 1-1 tie, Dan Eves and Steven Kaunisto had assists on the Rainville goal. The Redhawks Justin Mercier scored on the power play to Miami a 2-1 lead at 13:50 in the second period while Nik Sellers was serving 2 for hooking. Troy Schwab was able to tie the game back up for the Lakers less than a minute later, 14:47, scoring a shorthanded goal with Campbell getting the assist. Miami was able to take a one goal lead at 6:01 of the third period with Marty Guerin putting the puck past LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis. LSSU was unable to capitalize on any opportunities in the third period. Nathan Perkovich put a shot off the post of the Miami goal and Matt Martello saw the puck just skip by him as he saw the open net, both failing to tie the game up at 3-3. LSSU pulled Inglis with just under a minute remaining and Miami of Ohio was able to add an empty net goal with 13 seconds remaining in the game to give them the 4-2 win. The story of the game was Lake Superior State’s inability to score on the power play, LSSU was 0-for-6, 0-for-9 on the weekend. Most notably LSSU was unable to score on a 5 minute power play in the first period and they where also unable to capitalize on a two minute two man advantage midway through the second period. The lone bright spot for LSSU’s special teams was Schwab’s short handed goal, LSSU’s first of the season. LSSU played 2 good periods of hockey but where only able to muster 3 shots on goal in the third period as they watched Miami of Ohio elevate their game to the next level. LSSU did win the faceoff battle going 27-to-24 for the game. Next week the Lakers play host to Wayne State University.