GVSU takes 3 of 4 points from Missouri State

The Grand Valley State University Lakers were at home this past weekend for two games with the up-and-coming Missouri State Ice Bears, who were ranked No. 5 in the Central region. It was the first-ever meeting between the two teams and GVSU came away with a win and a tie.

Game one of the two-game series was one of the most uninspired performances of the year for GVSU. After the success of the past few weeks, it appeared that the Lakers assumed the game would just fall into their laps and it showed on the ice. Even so, GVSU managed to pull a 2-1 lead after one period and a 4-3 lead after two on goals by Phil Murray, Dean Watkins, Nick Biondo and Greg Kehr.

After Jake Erway added a fifth goal early in the third, GVSU played on the defensive for the rest of the game allowing the Ice Bears to get pressure on the Laker net and make it a one-goal game going into the last 10 minutes.

With 90 seconds left, Missouri State scored again to tie the game. Neither team was able to score in overtime and the game ended in a 5-5 tie. GVSU outshot Missouri State, 33-32. Chris Moore was in net for the tie.

The second game of the series was a different game. The game started out close with the two teams exchanging first-period goals including Biondo scoring on a penalty shot for the Lakers.

GVSU started to play up to their potential in the second, outshooting the Ice Bears 17-2 in the period. Despite this effort, the Lakers were only able to manage one goal, a blast from Biondo for his second of the game.

The momentum was enough to carry over into the third when Nate Beverwyk and Adam Zobl scored to give the Lakers a 4-1 win. Keven Chapman picked up the win in net making 22 saves. The Lakers dominated the shot total, with the final shots being 50-24 in favor of GVSU.

Grand Valley State travels to Yost Ice Arena to take on Michigan this weekend for one game on Friday.

News and Notes:
GVSU is still unbeaten in their home rink this season, with a record of 6-0-2...Biondo added three goals this weekend for a season total of 14 in 12 games...The Lakers have outscored their opponents 36-19 in the third period...Chapman now has four wins on the season, two more than his freshman year total.