BEMIDJI, Minn. - Lake Superior State opened a two-game series on the road against Bemidji State with a 3-2 victory, backstopped by a strong effort in net by starting goaltender Gordon Defiel (2-5-2). The victory marks the first Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory of the season for the Lakers (3-8-2, 1-2-2 WCHA).
Defiel turned aside 33 of the 35 shots fired at him by the Beavers (2-6-2, 1-5-1 WCHA) to pick up his second win of the season and the tenth of his career.
Defiel's counterpart and reigning WCHA Rookie of the Year, Michael Bitzer (1-6-2), allowed three goals on 17 shots by the Lakers.
The visiting Lakers took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on Gus Correale's (2-3--5) second goal of the year.
Peter Spratte (0-1--1) picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone and fired it up the boards to a streaking Correale. Correale found a seam and buried his shot from the faceoff circle to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead with 10:02 remaining in the opening frame.
Mitch Hults (4-2--6) put the Lakers up 2-0 just 4:26 into the second period with a short-side wrister on the rush. The tally, Hults' first even-strength goal of the season, was assisted by Bryce Schmitt (1-1--2) and Kyle Chatham (1-3--4).
Graeme McCormack cut the lead in half with 10:59 remaining in the second period with a shot that just trickled through Defiel's pads.
Just under three minutes after the goal by McCormack, Anthony Nellis netted his first career goal to put the Lakers up 3-1. Aidan Wright (0-1--1) and Chatham scored the assists on the marker by Nellis. The assist by Chatham was his second of the evening.
The goal by Nellis remained the differential in the final score and marked his first game-winning point of any kind in an anchor sweater.
With 7:44 remaining in the middle period, Josh Nenadal (3-0--3) was whistled for contact to the head on freshman Ian Janco. Nenadal's penalty was deemed worthy of a disqualification and a 5-minute major penalty.
The Beavers were quick to respond on the extended power play, scoring just 2:14 into the penalty time on Nenadal. Gerry Fitzgerald notched his team-high 7th goal of the season while displaying excellent patience in the slot and picked the corner over Defiel's glove.
Despite constant pressure by the Beavers on the remaining penalty time to Nenadal, Defiel and his defense stood strong to ward off any attempts to tie the game and took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The Beavers outshot the Lakers 19-5 during the second period with both sides scoring a pair of goals.
The teams skated through a tense final period featuring premium scoring chances for both sides but neither goalie allowed further damage and the Lakers held on to secure the victory.
For the game, the Beavers outshot the Lakers 35-17 and went 2-4 on power play opportunities. The Lakers were unsuccessful in three attempts on the power play.
LSSU now holds a 27-21-2 advantage in the all-time series against the Beavers and has extended their series-lead in Bemidji to 12-10-1.
The Lakers now sit a single point behind Alabama-Huntsville and Alaska in 9th place of the WCHA standings following the series opening victory.
The teams will resume the series Saturday night at 8:07 p.m. ET from the Sanford Center.