Lakers split with visiting Buckeyes

By Mike Burrill/LSSU Beat Writer

The Lake Superior State Lakers split a hard-fought series with the Ohio State Buckeyes at Taffy Abel Arena over the weekend. Both games were decided by one goal, with Saturday's victory coming in overtime.

Friday night, OSU scored with eight seconds left in the game to steal the 4-3 win. The Buckeyes would open the scoring in the first, but junior Carter Lee would tie the game minutes later, scoring his first goal as a Laker since transferring from Northeastern. John Scrymgeour would earn the only assist.

Pat Aubry would give LSSU its first lead of the game, snapping a shot under the crossbar early in the second. Scrymgeour and defenseman Steve Oleksy nicely set up the play. With the game tied at two going into the third, Zac MacVoy would score a goal assisted by Dan Eaves and Chad Nehring to give the Lakers their second lead of the game. Lake State would give up two power-play goals in the last ten minutes of the game.

The Lakers were 0-3 on the power-play, however, they did put the puck in the net during a first period opportunity. Overzealous referee Brian Hill blew the whistle after losing sight of the puck to void the goal, but he had no problem letting the Buckeye players run and bang away at Laker netminder Brian Mahoney-Wilson in order to score, despite him covering the puck.

Mahoney-Wilson was excellent in goal despite that fact, making 35 saves in the game.

Saturday night, it was the Lakers who came out strong, scoring three goals in the first period in route to the 6-5 overtime win. Team captain Troy Schwab would get the first two goals for LSSU. His first was on the power play assisted by Steve Kaunisto, while the second goal was an even-strength tally assisted by Nathan Perkovich.

In the second, LSSU would add two more power-play goals to hold off the Buckeyes at the end of the second. Will Acton's goal was assisted by MacVoy and Matt Cowie. Perkovich would then score a goal of his own with Schwab getting the only helper.

The Lakers gave up two more third period power-play goals to send the game into overtime, where MacVoy would beat the Ohio State goalie on a nice feed from Cowie. Defenseman Simon Gysbers would also earn an assist.

Lake Superior was 5-for-8 on the power play. Mahoney-Wilson was in net again for the Lakers, making 31 saves including 14 in the third period.

LSSU (4-16-4, 2-13-3 CCHA) is back at home this upcoming weekend when they take on the Ferris State Bulldogs in CCHA action.