Lakers to close 2007 with trip to Omaha

NEWS RELEASE

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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LSSU closes out 2007 portion of season at UNO

SAULT STE. MARIE – The Lake Superior State hockey team closes out the 2007 portion of the season with a road trip to Nebraska-Omaha.

The Lakers (2-11-1 overall, 0-8-0 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) play the Mavericks (5-7-1 overall, 4-7-1 CCHA) at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday at the Qwest Center in Omaha. Both games will be broadcast live on Rock 101 FM and simulcast on www.lssulakers.com.

Although UNO has nine points in the conference standings so far this season, the Lakers and Mavs have had similar fates against common opponents. Both teams were swept by third-ranked Michigan at home and by sixth-ranked Notre Dame in South Bend. Otherwise, UNO lost twice to top-ranked Miami during its season opener, swept Ohio State, split with Ferris State and took three of four points from Alaska.

LSSU is coming off 3-2 and 5-2 home losses to fifth-ranked Michigan State, which was the Lakers’ sixth nationally-ranked opponent in eight weeks. Although MSU extended LSSU’s losing streak to eight games, the Lakers played an outstanding game against the Spartans on Friday and played even with them through about 45 minutes on Saturday. LSSU sophomore Nathan Perkovich snapped out of his four-game goal-scoring drought and tallied a goal in both games over the weekend. Freshman Rick Schofield also had a goal both nights, and junior Troy Schwab was 0-3—3 for the series. LSSU was 2-for-8 on the power play after finishing 0-for-15 the previous week against Michigan.

LSSU senior Dan Eves, who leads the Lakers in points with 4-6—10, had a goal and two assists when the Lakers took three of four points from UNO last year in the Sault. Perkovich, who is second in scoring with 9-0—9 and tied for fifth in the CCHA in power-play goals with five, added two goals last year. Lake State is 1-0-2 in its last three games against the Mavs, but has not won in Omaha since Dec. 9, 2004.

UNO is led by senior forwards Bryan Marshall (3-13—16, CCHA assist leader), Mick Lawrence (8-3—11) and Brandon Scero (5-5—10), and junior forward Dan Charleston (5-6—11). The Mavs have been using three goaltenders: junior Jerad Kaufman (2.91, .882), senior Eric Aarnio (2.94, .871) and sophomore Jeremie Dupont (4.99, .796).

Following this weekend’s series, the Lakers will be off until Jan. 4-5 when they travel to Michigan State. Their next home series is Jan. 11-12 against Bowling Green State.

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