LSSU Takes 3 of 4 Points from Western Michigan

Notching a tie and a win this weekend to earn three points the Lakers jumped Ohio State to hold 10th place in the CCHA with six games remaining in the season. Friday night Lake Superior State led on three different occasions, but failed to maintain the lead as Western Michigan came back to tie Friday's hockey game every time as the Lakers and Broncos skated to a 3-3 deadlock at Lawson Arena. LSSU (5-16-6 overall, 3-13-5 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) recorded its second overtime tie in as many games and extended its unbeaten streak to four games (2-0-2). The Lakers and Broncos (7-19-3 overall, 3-16-2 CCHA) play again at 7:35 p.m. Saturday in Kalamazoo. Chad Nehring scored the first goal for LSSU, which was playing its first game in Kalamazoo since November, 2005. He gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead at 8:40 of the first period, and Troy Schwab drew the assist. WMU's Cam Watson answered at 10:15 of the opening period. Defenseman Steve Oleksy scored his first goal of the season for a 2-1 LSSU lead at 15:14 of the second period. Will Acton and Jason Blain had assists. The Lakers' first penalty of the game led to WMU's second goal, which was scored by Jeff Pierce at 19:56 of the middle stanza. The Broncos were 1-for-1 on the power play for the night, while LSSU finished 0-for-3. Zac MacVoy gave Lake Superior State a 3-2 edge at 7:10 of the third period. Rick Schofield drew the only assist. WMU's Max Campbell tallied the game-tying goal at 15:27. LSSU goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson totaled 29 saves, including 13 in the opening period. WMU netminder Riley Gill had 30 saves, including 13 in the final period. With a win on Saturday Lake Superior State posted its second straight three-point weekend, but this time the Lakers did it on the road, tying 3-3 Friday and winning 3-2 Saturday at Western Michigan. LSSU (6-15-6 overall, 4-13-5 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) scored a goal in each period both nights. WMU (7-20-3 overall, 3-17-2 CCHA) answered every goal on Friday, but the Broncos couldn't solve the Lake Superior State defense on Saturday until they spoiled sophomore goaltender Pat Inglis' shutout with 1:34 to go. Freshman Chad Nehring scored LSSU's first goal of the game for the second straight night, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead at 3:04 of the first period. Dan Eves and Dillin Stonehouse were credited with assists. Troy Schwab made it 2-0 with a goal at 13:51 of the second period, and Zac MacVoy gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead by scoring at 1:45 of the third period. No assists were reported. Western Michigan's Nathan Ansell scored on a slapshot from near the boards to cut the lead to 3-1 at 18:26 of the third period. With WMU goalie Jerry Kuhn pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Bronco Jeff LoVecchio made it 3-2 with four seconds remaining. Inglis totaled 33 saves, while Kuhn finished with 34. It was the Lakers' first win of the season when out-shooting an opponent. They edged the Broncos in shots on goal in both games of the series. LSSU was 0-for-3 on the power play, while WMU finished 0-for-2. The Lakers, who took three of four points from Ferris State during last weekend's home series, travel to Michigan for two televised games next weekend. Notes: An assist was credited to Eves on the Lakers' third goal Friday...The Lakers and Broncos celebrated "Think Pink" as part of a breast cancer awareness campaign and played Saturday's game with pink tape on their sticks and pink skate laces...LSSU has a five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2)...MacVoy has scored the game-winning goal in the Lakers' last three victories.