LSSU and UWO Skate to 3-3 Tie

Lake Superior State University’s men’s hockey team battled back, in the second half of Saturday’s game, to post a 3-3 tie against Western Ontario. LSSU fell behind at 12:34 of the first period on a power play goal by Jeff Martens. The Lakers went down 2-0 when OHL veteran Sal Peralta scored an even strength goal 1:26 into the second period. Simon Gysbers took a 5 minute checking from behind penalty 3:22 into the second period, with was accompanied by a game misconduct penalty. Just past the 5 minute mark UWO’s Adam Nemeth and Ryan Martinelli, and LSSU’s Nathan Perkovich where each assessed 2 minutes in the penalty box following a skirmish after the whistle instigated by a cross check by Martinelli. Pat Aubry brought the Lakers back to 2-1 scoring a 4-on-4 goal with Dillin Stonehouse getting the assist at 6:33 into the second. Martens scored his second goal of the game to give Western Ontario the 3-1 lead at 9:26 of the second period. Following the second Martens goal, LSSU Head Coach Jim Roque decided to pull freshman starter Brian Mahoney-Wilson after giving up 3 goals on 13 shots in just under 30 minutes played. With LSSU having two relatively inexperienced goaltenders this move was probably predetermined rather than a result of Mahoney-Wilson’s performance. Perkovich was able to grab momentum for the Lakers scoring 54 seconds into the third period with Troy Schwab getting the assist. Chad Nehring was able to tie the game at 3-3 with an even strength goal at 16:14 with Nik Sellers and Dan Eves getting the assists on the Freshman’s goal. Neither team was able to capitalize on any attempts during overtime with Western Ontario posting 4 shots against LSSU’s 1 shot. Both teams utilized goaltender tandems in goal with LSSU’s Mahoney Wilson posting 3 goals against and 10 saves in just under 30 minutes and Pat Inglis saved all 7 shots he faced in regulation and recorded 4 saves during overtime, while UWO's Keyvan Hunt allowed 1 goal on 24 shots in the first two periods. LSSU was able to put in two goals against OHL veteran Brad Topping in the third period on 14 shots, but Topping made a save on the only shot he faced in the overtime period.LSSU went 0-for-4 on the power play, and gave up 1 goal on 4 opportunities with the extra man to UWO. For the third game this season LSSU held the faceoff edge winning 60% of the time.LSSU remains home next weekend to play the home season opener against #7 Clarkson University at 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena.