MANKATO, Minn.-  Lake Superior State men's ice hockey dropped the second game and fell victim of a sweep against Minnesota State in the quarterfinals of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs on Saturday night. The Lakers (8-28-2, 7-20-1 WCHA) were without their captain Andrew Dommett (1-3--4) due to injury and relied on an inspired performance to hang with the No. 2-ranked Mavericks for three periods of stellar hockey. The Lakers fell 4-2 but clawed back after each punch the Mavericks delivered on the evening.

Freshman goaltender Gordon Defiel started in net against his counterpart from the Mavericks, Stephon Williams. Defiel, in wrapping up his excellent freshman campaign, made 32 saves on the night. Williams made 20 saves and was there to turn away some of the Lakers' best chances.

Bryce Gervais opened up the scoring with his 26^th goal of the season and 50^th on his career. C.J Franklin and Matt Leitner tallied the assists. The period ended with a 1-0 lead for the mavericks as the Lakers were unable to convert on a number of quality offensive chances.

The Mavericks were quick to add another goal early in the second period as Dylan Margonari chipped home his 13^th goal of the year after a perfect feed from Zach Stephan. Sean Flanagan also picked up an assist on the goal.

The Lakers went to the power play at the 11:59 mark of the second period as Jordan Nelson went off for elbowing.  The Lakers controlled the power play for the first 30 seconds of the power play and at the 12:59 mark, Ryan Renz (1-4--5) blasted home his first career goal as a Laker. Eric Drapluk (3-8--11) and Stephen Perfetto (11-8--19) each picked up an assist on Renz's power-play strike. Killing off two penalties and unable to convert on one more power play late in the period, the Lakers went to the intermission trailing 2-1 and short a man as Luke Sandler was whistled for charging with 32 seconds remaining in the period.

The Lakers worked hard to kill off the majority of the penalty but a rebound came out from a shot by Zach Palmquist and Brad McClure was there to bury it for the 10^th time this season. The power-play marker put the Mavericks up 3-1 but didn't discourage the Lakers as they fought back to keep the game close.

Midway through the third period and with a faceoff down in the Mavericks' zone, a bouncing puck off of the draw came out to a ready Austin McKay (5-0--5). McKay buried his fifth goal of the year and sixth as a Laker to cut the lead to 3-2. Scott Patterson (1-2--3) was credited with the primary assist and the Rochester, Minnesota native Peter Spratte (0-1--1) collected his first point of the season with the secondary assist.

Minutes later the Mavericks appeared to score a goal as Chase Grant's shot went off of Defiel and trickled into the net. The referees reviewed the play and confirmed that there was no goal, which gave the Lakers extended life.

With 2:14 remaining, however, Dylan Margonari scored his second goal of the night to seal the Lakers' fate. McClure set the play up with high-rising clapper that hit Defiel up high and left him momentarily stunned as the juicy rebound came right out front and onto the tape of Margonari's stick.

The Lakers convrerted one of their three power plays on the evening and held the prolific power-play attack of the Mavericks at bay with a 1-6 outing by the home team. The Mavericks outshot the Lakers 36-22.

Minnesota State will move on to the semifinals of the WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. next weekend. The Lakers return to Sault Ste. Marie and begin to prepare for the 49^th season of Laker Hockey.