GVSU falls to D-I opponents in close games

Lakers to Face National Champion Oakland Next

Grand Valley State University traveled to the east side of the state this past weekend to take on two ACHA Division I opponents. The Lakers faced off with the No. 7 University of Michigan-Dearborn Wolves on Friday and No. 17 Eastern Michigan Univerisity on Saturday.

GVSU came out hard on Friday, but the game was quickly marred by penalties, which killed both teams' flow. Dearborn scored quickly on an early 5-on-3 and connected later with another power-play goal. GVSU scored early in the second with a power-play goal of their own, as Andy Dykstra got his first of the season from Jake Erway and goalie Kevin Chapman. It was then that Grand Valley received seven penalties in a row, including a five minute major. Though continuously on the penalty kill, GVSU was able to stay with the Wolves with the help of a goal from Nick Biondo.

The Lakers strong penalty kill was able to stand until the beginning of the third, when Dearborn began to take advantage of their opportunities and pulled away. GVSU made a late charge with two goals from Nate Morang, and one each from Adam Zobl (pictured above) and Biondo, but it wasn't enough as the Wolves sealed the deal with a goal with 10 seconds left.

Chapman played strong in Lakers net, seeing 45 shots. Chris Moore relieved him in the third and stopped 11 for the night. GVSU received 20 more minutes in penalties than Dearborn, which resulted in a shots ending up to be 56-36 in favor of Dearborn. Erway ended the night with four assists.

The Lakers again started strong on Saturday against Eastern Michigan, dominating the first period everywhere but the scoreboard. Though shots were 21 -7 in the first in favor of GVSU, the Lakers found themselves down 2-1. Biondo scored his third of the weekend for the Lakers. The second was a comedy of errors for GVSU, as though they dominated possession and attack time, Eastern was able to take advantage of multiple miscues and take a 4-1 lead.

GVSU fought back with goals from Dykstra, Dean Watkins and Biondo, but EMU added another goal at the end of the period to go up 5-3. Erway added a final goal in the third, but it was all the Lakers could muster, as they picked up another 10 minutes of penalties to fall by a final score of 7-5.

Grand Valley dominated Eastern in the shot totals, outshooting them by a total of 42-29. Grant Lyon started in net for the Lakers and faced 13 shots, while Moore relieved him in the second and faced 16 shots.

GVSU returns home on Friday to face last year's national champion Oakland University for a home-and-home series. These games will will be the last of six consecutive games against D-I teams for the Lakers.