MSU sweeps WSU, allows just two goals

Michigan State rebounded from their loss in the finals of the Great Lakes Invitational last week to allow just two goals in their weekend sweep at home against Wayne State.

The Spartans (10-8-5) took a 3-1 win Friday night and then a 5-1 victory Saturday night.

"Obviously it was a much needed sweep," Michigan State head coach Rick Comley said. "You want (the team) to leave feeling like they've accomplished something and they're building on something. Wayne State is a tough team to play against. They're not pretty, they do what they can do, and in the third period, both nights, I thought they tried to play a little bit more. I was encouraged by the fact that they got back into the game and we came back and put the game away."

Freshman Jeff Lerg (above right) earned the win both nights for the Spartans.

In the finale Saturday night, captain Drew Miller and David Booth each scored twice to pace the MSU attack in a 5-1 win.

Justin Abdelkader scored the opening goal for MSU while Daniel Vukovic and Nick Sucharski added two assists apiece. Lerg stopped 24 shots and at the other end, Matt Kelly turned aside 42 for the Warriors (4-12-2).

Nate Higgins scored WSU's lone goal on a second-period power play.

"I thought tonight we played with a lot of intensity," WSU head coach Bill Wilkinson said. "We couldn't capitalize on some of the mistakes Michigan State made and they didn't make many."

Friday night, Lerg made 18 saves and allowed just a late first-period goal to Warriors' freshman Derek Punches.

Corey Potter, Jared Nightingale and Sucharski scored for MSU while Ethan Graham's assist on Sucharski's goal was his first point in 10 games.

Kelly finished with 38 saves for Wayne State.

"It is just so important for these kids to leave the building in a good frame of mind," added Comley.

Next up for the Spartans is a two-game CCHA set with Alaska-Fairbanks at Munn Ice Arena next weekend. Wayne State travels to Bemidji State for a pair of CHA contests.