Lakers earn tough split at Colgate

By Michael David/Lake Superior State Beat Writer

The Lake Superior State Lakers earned a split with the Colgate Red Raiders in a Thursday-Friday series. The Lakers lost a heartbreaker in overtime, 5-4 on Thursday, only to bounce back with a dominant 6-1 win on Friday.

On Thursday night, Colgate would draw first blood early in the first, only to have Lake State respond with three unanswered goals. Brad Cooper scored his first goal as a Laker to tie the game at one in the first period. Josh Sim and Dan Barczuk were credited with the helpers.

In the second period, Rick Schofield put LSSU up by a goal with assists going to Dillin Stonehouse and Steven Kaunisto. Later in the period, Zac MacVoy scored an unassisted goal to put the Lakers up 3-1.

The lead wouldn't last, however, as Colgate would bounce back with three unanswered goals of their own. They scored twice to end the second period in a tie and then again early in the third to take the lead.

The Lakers would eventually fight back, with freshman Fred Cassiani netting the game-tying goal on the power play midway through the period. Troy Schwab and Simon Gysbers assisted on Cassiani's goal.

Laker netminder Pat Inglis made 33 saves in the game.

In Friday night's game, the Lakers would take the lead and never look back. Schofield scored the only goal of the first period, assisted by Schwab, to put the Lakers up 1-0.

In the second period, Sim netted a power-play goal assisted by Schwab and MacVoy. Chad Nehring scored his first of the weekend assisted by Steven Oleksy and Nathan Perkovich. The Laker power play struck again, as Will Acton found the net on a goal assisted by Oleksy and Kaunisto. Colgate would score its lone goal to end the second, but were still down 4-1.

LSSU would continue the onslaught in the third period, netting two more goals. Nehring would score his second of the night assisted by Barczuk and Carter Lee. Schofield would round out the Laker scoring when he tickled the twine on a set-up by Sim.

In net, Brian Mahoney-Wilson made 38 saves to earn the win.

Next weekend, the Lakers (6-9-7, 3-6-5-1 CCHA) get back into conference action hosting former coach Jeff Jackson and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Jackson led the Lakers to the 1992 and 1994 NCAA championships.