Lakers pick up another weekend split

NEWS RELEASES

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Lakers split third straight CCHA series

Rainville, Schwab score for LSSU

SAULT STE. MARIE - After posting a 2-1 victory over the fourth-ranked Miami RedHawks Friday night, Lake State fell 4-2 in Saturday's Central Collegiate Hockey Association rematch at Taffy Abel Arena.

CCHA leader Miami improved to an 8-4-0 record overall, and 5-3-0 in league play. After splitting the series, LSSU is 6-4-0 overall and 3-3-0 in the CCHA. The Lakers have split all three CCHA series of the season, including two on the road.

Sophomore defenseman Marty Eichenlaub led Miami in the win over Lake Superior State by scoring an empty-net goal and assisting on Marty Guerin's game-winner at 6:01 of the third period.

The second period brought plenty of action, resulting in a 2-2 tie. Miami scored the first goal of the game when Nathan Davis capitalized on a Laker defensive misstep 2:51 into the period.

Laker Jeff Rainville answered with his sixth goal of the season 2:14 later when he hit the top shelf against Miami goaltender Jeff Zatkoff. Rainville was assisted by Dan Eves and Steven Kaunisto.

Miami took a 2-1 lead when sophomore Justin Mercier scored a power-play goal at 13:50.

LSSU's Troy Schwab tied it 2-2 with a short-handed goal at 14:47. Trent Campbell drew the only assist. Earlier in the period, Schwab was hauled down on a break-away as Miami picked up two minor penalties, but the Lakers failed to score during the 5-on-3 power play.

Lake State, trailing 3-2, threw in an extra attacker in place of goaltender Pat Inglis at 18:42 of the third period, but Eichenlaub came up with the puck in LSSU's zone and scored on the empty net. Inglis (2-1-0) totaled 32 saves for the night, while Zatkoff (4-2-0) finished with 19 saves.

The Lakers were 0-for-6 on the power play, while Miami was 1-for-5.

Lake State will take on Wayne State at 7:35 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.

Corrections from Friday: Changes were made to both Laker goals following review of Friday's game. Campbell tipped in LSSU's first goal, and Matt Martello had the tip-in on the Lakers' second goal. Derek A. Smith, who was originally credited with both goals, finished with two assists.

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Lakers take Game 1 from fourth-ranked Miami

Derek A. Smith scores both Laker goals

SAULT STE. MARIE - Junior defenseman Derek A. Smith is among the nation's leaders in assists, but he scored two second-period goals to lead the Lake Superior State hockey team to a 2-1 victory over fourth-ranked Miami on Friday at Taffy Abel Arena.

LSSU improved to 6-3-0 overall and 3-2-0 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Defending CCHA regular-season champion Miami, which went into the game with a one-point lead in the 2006-07 league standings, dropped to 7-4-0 overall and 4-3-0 in the CCHA. The teams meet again at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday.

Smith, who entered the game with no goals and seven assists, broke a scoreless tie with an even-strength goal at 6:20 of the second period. Nathan Perkovich and Trent Campbell assisted on the goal.

Miami's Brian Kaufman tied it, 1-1, with a four-on-four goal at 9:33, but Smith scored again at 11:44. The Lakers' one-goal lead held throughout the remaining 28:16 despite the RedHawks' out-shooting the Lakers, 11-8 in the third period and 26-22 for the night.

Matt Martello had the only assist on Smith's second goal.

Senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis totaled 25 saves and improved to 4-3-0. Miami netminder Charlie Effinger (4-2-0) stopped 20 of 22 shots.

LSSU finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while Miami was 0-for-2. The RedHawks' power play was held scoreless for the first time this season.

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