Lakers gain revenge on Buckeyes...sort of

By Michael David/LSSU Beat Writer

So far this season, the only team to sweep the Lake Superior State Lakers in a weekend series was the Ohio State Buckeyes. This weekend the Lakers got their revenge on OSU. They didn't sweep the Buckeyes, but did the next best thing by shutting them out 1-0 on Friday, and tying 4-4 on Saturday, with a shootout win to gain the extra point in the CCHA standings.

Friday night, the Lakers scored early in the first period on a goal by senior defenseman Kyle Haines when OSU was caught in a line change. The lone assist came from freshman forward Chris Ciotti. That would prove all the scoring Lake State would need, as sophomore goalie Kevin Kapalka earned his first shut-out of the season, and fifth of his career.

Kapalka made 34 saves on the night, and the Lakers were held 0-4 on the power-play. LSSU held the Buckeyes 0-5 with the man advantage.

Saturday nights game was an instant classic, as the teams scored back and forth, and skated to a 4-4 tie after regulation and five minutes of overtime. Ohio State would get on the board early in this one, scoring a power-play goal at 8:38 of the first period. The Lakers would answer back, with Nick McParland tying the game on a goal assisted by junior forward Dominic Mondardo and sophomore forward Kyle Jean. The Lakers used their momentum to put another puck past the Buckeye netminder, but the Big Ten officials ruled it a no goal and it was not reviewed. Ohio State would take the momentum back, as they would score at the 0:00 mark of the first period, to take a 2-1 lead into the intermission.

The Lakers came back strong in the second, when Monardo would score a power-play goal of his own to notch the score at 2. Assists went to defenseman Zach Trotman and Kevin Czuczman. The Lakers would use the power-play to take the lead 3-2, when Kellan Lain found the back of the net with assists going to Monardo and Czuczman. Ohio State would make their own comeback, and score two more goals to end the second period up 4-3.

LSSU would use the extra man again, to tie the game 4-4. This time Trotman would get credited with the goal, when his blast from the point slid between the pipes. After the end of regulation, and five minutes of overtime, each team would earn one point in the CCHA standings. Lake State was able to kill off 1:50 of a 2-man Buckeye advantage early in the OT. The Lakers would win the shoot-out 2-1, with goals from Monardo and Dan Radke to earn the all important extra point.

Kapalka was stellar in net again for Lake State, making 41 saves. He is now 4-0 in shoot-out situations. The Lakers were 3-8 on the power-play while Ohio State was 2-5.

Lake Superior (14-11-5/9-9-4-4 CCHA) will host the USA NTDP team in exhibition action next weekend.