LSSU settles for split with Miami

Lake Superior State University split with Miami over the weekend, posting their fourth series split of the season and third in CCHA play.

A pair of goals from Derek A. Smith was all that they Lakers needed for a 2-1 win over the RedHawks on Friday night. Smith scored his first goal of the season banking it off of a Miami defenseman in front of the net early in the second period. Miami tied the game three minutes later when Brian Kaufman put a shot behind Lakers goaltender Jeff Jakaitis.

Smith added his second goal of the game a couple minutes later off after a faceoff win by freshman Matt Martello.

Jakaitis recorded 25 saves, while RedHawks' goaltender Charlie Effinger finished with 20 saves.

Saturday night, Miami took the lead with national scoring leader Nathan Davis scoring his tenth goal of the season just minutes into the second period. LSSU's Jeff Rainville scored just over two minutes later to give the Lakers a 1-1 tie. Justin Mercier scored on the power play to give Miami a 2-1 lead just over midway in the second period, but Troy Schwab was able to tie the game back up for the Lakers less than a minute later with a shorthanded goal.

Miami then took a one-goal lead early in the third period with Lansing native Marty Guerin putting the puck past LSSU goaltender Pat Inglis. LSSU pulled Inglis with just under a minute remaining and Miami added an empty-net goal with 13 seconds remaining in the game to give them the 4-2 win.

The story of the weekend was Lake Superior State's inability to score on the power play. LSSU was 0-for-9 with the extra man. Most notably on Saturday night, LSSU was unable to score on a five-minute power play in the first period and they where also unable to capitalize on a two-minute two-man advantage midway through the second period. The lone bright spot for LSSU's special teams was Schwab's shorthanded goal, LSSU's first of the season.

Next weekend, the Lakers play host to Wayne State University.

Photo courtesy LSSUHockey.com.