Lakers nab first CCHA victory

NEWS RELEASES

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Lakers Win! Gysbers notches a goal, three assists as LSSU earns first CCHA win of 2007-08

SAULT STE. MARIE - Sophomore defenseman Simon Gysbers scored Lake Superior State's first goal of the game and assisted on the other three to lead the Lakers to a 4-1 victory over Bowling Green State on Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena.

With LSSU's first Central Collegiate Hockey Association victory of the season, the Lakers (3-13-4 overall, 1-10-3 CCHA) snapped a 12-game winless streak. They are 1-2-3 in their last six games heading into next weekend's series against powerhouse Miami. They improved to 2-10-2 against teams receiving votes in the national polls.

Lake Superior State, which gave up three unanswered goals in the third period of Friday's 4-2 loss, played well from start to finish on Saturday.

The Lakers led 3-1 at the end of two periods and protected their lead by holding BGSU scoreless during four third-period power plays. When killing off their second power play of the third period (LSSU began the period short-handed), the trio of John Scrymgeour, Pat Aubry and Steve Oleksy, as well as the threesome of Dillin Stonehouse, Jason Blain and Zac MacVoy escaped with 3-on-2 break-aways.

The Lakers cleared the puck four times during the Falcons' third power play.

BGSU also pulled goalie Jimmy Spratt for 2:39, playing 6-on-4 for a portion of that stretch after Tyson Hobbins took a tripping penalty at 16:48. LSSU goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson totaled 21 saves, including 14 in the third period.

BGSU out-shot LSSU, 29-18, but the Lakers continued to live up to their better win percentage when they trail in the shots category (2-8-4 v. 0-5-0).

Gysbers scored LSSU's first goal at 4:56 of the first period on nice play that included Chad Nehring and Scrymgeour, who drew assists, as well as Matt Cowie.

Dan Eves made it 2-0 with a power-play goal at 19:53 as MacVoy and Gysbers picked up assists. It was 3-0 after Rick Schofield scored a power-play goal at 12:49 of the second period. Gysbers and Cowie had the assists.

Derek Whitemore scored BGSU's only goal at 16:19 of the second period. The Falcons finished 1-for-8 on the power play, while LSSU was 2-for-7.

Gysbers fed a clearing pass to MacVoy for an empty-net goal with 33 seconds remaining.

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BGSU scores three unanswered goals to overtake LSSU

Perkovich, Aubry tally Laker goals

SAULT STE. MARIE - The Lake Superior State hockey team, which was playing in its first home game since Dec. 1, had Taffy Abel Arena fans on the edge of their seats Friday until Bowling Green State scored two goals in during a 1:02 span of the third period to overtake the Lakers.

Goals by David Solway at 6:51 of the third period and Derek Whitmore at 7:53 brought the Falcons back from a 2-1 deficit. BGSU (10-9-0 overall, 7-6-0 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) went on to outscore LSSU 3-1 in the third period and claim a 4-2 victory.

LSSU is 2-13-4 overall and 0-10-3 in the CCHA heading into Saturday's rematch.

Lake Superior State dominated the first period and played even with the Falcons in the second. The Lakers out-shot BGSU 11-2 in the opening period and led 1-0 after a power-play goal by Nathan Perkovich at 2:47. Troy Schwab and Steven Kaunisto drew the assists.

Bowling Green State tied it, 1-1, on a Jacob Cepis goal at 15:02 of the second period. The Falcons out-shot LSSU 15-6 during the middle stanza.

Pat Aubry floated his first goal of the season past BGSU goaltender Nick Eno at 1:35 of the third period to give the Lakers the 2-1 edge. John Scrymgeour and Chad Nehring set up the two-on-one.

Brandon Svendson scored BGSU's fourth goal at 11:25 of the third period. Enos finished with 25 saves, while LSSU netminder Pat Inglis totaled 19 saves.

The Lakers were 1-for-4 on the power play, and the Falcons finished 0-for-3.

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