SAULT STE. MARIE - It took all of regulation and just over a minute of overtime, but Lake Superior State hockey found the only goal of the game during the Western Collegiate Hockey Association weekend series finale against No. 16 Bowling Green on Saturday night.
The 1-0 victory gives the Lakers a record of 8-12-4 and 5-5-4 in the WCHA. The eight wins by the Lakers this season matches their total win output from 2014-15.
"I'm just really proud," said head coach Damon Whitten of his team's determination in the victory. "I thought we played like men, I thought we played hard, and I thought we certainly deserved to win that game."
"For us to go earn it in overtime, I'm just so proud of the effort across the board," continued Whitten. "We talked about not having any passengers; the Lakers didn't have any passengers. They showed up and played like men. That's a big win for us."
Gordon Defiel (5-8-3) produced 25 saves for the Lakers in recording his first shutout of the season and the fifth of his career.
The fifth shutout moves Defiel up to 7th all-time in career shutouts at LSSU, one behind Bruce Hoffort with six. Darrin Madeley and Jayme Platt are tied for 8th with four career shutouts.
In front of 1,664 fans at Taffy Abel Arena, freshman Diego Cuglietta netted his third career-collegiate goal and second career game winner off a deflected shot by fellow freshman Matt McArdle.
With four assists to date in his freshman campaign, Cuglietta now has a total of seven points in 22 games.
Another freshman, Anthony Nellis (3-7--10) also assisted on the play to become the fifth Laker to reach 10 points on the season. During 2014-15 a total of seven players reached at least 10 points.
Chris Nell (9-3-5) produced a terrific night between the pipes for the Falcons (13-6-5, 9-3-4) for the second consecutive evening. Nell stopped 31 shots by the Lakers before the redirected overtime winner snuck past him.
In four contests against each other this season the teams split a win each and a pair of 1-1 ties at Bowling Green in November. For the four-game series the Falcons scored a total of five goals to the Lakers' four.
Neither team connected on a power-play goal in four opportunities apiece.
For the second-consecutive evening the Lakers defense produced 18 blocked shots, headlined by freshman forward Mitch Hults blocking four shots on the evening.
The Lakers also won the faceoff battle, 32-25.
LSSU plays host to Alaska Anchorage next Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 16-17.
