SAULT STE. MARIE - For the sixth consecutive game Lake Superior State dropped a Western Collegiate Hockey Association contest Bemidji State, 2-1 inside Taffy Abel Arena on Friday night. In each of the six games the Lakers (9-18-4, 6-11-4 WCHA) have scored just one goal, four times, and were shutout in the other two losses.
Michael Bitzer, the reigning WCHA Rookie of the Year made the start in net for the Beavers (13-11-5, 8-9-4 WCHA) and turned aside 25-of-26 shots en route to his ninth win of the season. The lone blemish on Bitzer's record came on a first period goal by LSSU freshman forward Jake Hand.
Hand's goal, his first as a Laker and the sixth point of his rookie campaign, came 7:48 into the first period with the Lakers already trailing 1-0. Fellow freshmen Anthony Nellis (3-9-12) and Mitch Hults (6-7--13) added the assists to the tying tally.
John Parker opened the scoring for the game with a goal off of the first shot on LSSU goaltender Gordon Defiel, just 2:51 into play. Parker's goal, his eighth of the season, was assisted by Brett Beauvis.
Defiel recovered and put together a strong outing between the pipes, despite the loss, saving 25-of-27 shots by BSU.
Both sides skated to a 1-1 tie after two periods, with the Beavers claiming an 18-17 lead in shots after the first 40 minutes.
With the game tied and only 11:04 left in regulation, Lakers defenseman Aidan Wright was whistled for the team's fifth penalty of the game, a two-minute minor for cross-checking. Nine seconds later, Bemidji netted the go-ahead power-play tally with a shot from the faceoff circle by Brendan Harms.
Harms' fifth goal of the season held up as the game-winning goal.
LSSU finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while BSU scored once on six opportunities. The Beavers totaled a 27-to-26 advantage in shots.
The teams will resume the series Saturday night at 7:07 p.m. ET. Tickets for Saturday's contest are still available at the Norris Center Guest Services Desk, online at http://lssutickets.universitytickets.com, or by calling (906) 635-2602.
