Cullen Maksimowski, LSSULakers.com

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.— After surrendering four first period goals Friday evening, the Lake Superior State hockey team failed to recover as it fell to Alaska-Fairbanks, 5-3, in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association matchup.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 3-9-3 overall on season with a 2-5-2 mark in the WCHA. The Nanooks move to 5-10-2, 3-7-1.

Alaska scored its first three goals in the in the 12th minute of the first period. Justin Woods, Colton Leiter and Troy Van Tetering scored for the Nooks.

Lake State got on the board at the 15:42 mark in the first period with goal form Gage Torrel (2) coming on an assist from Diego Cuglietta (6). 

Van Tetering scored at in the final minute of the period and added another 9:36 in to the second to finish with a hat trick for UAF.

The Lakers clawed back with a goal from Max Humitz (8) at the 16:04 mark in the second. followed by a third period (7:43) goal from J.T. Henke to pull within two. 

"Just an unacceptable effort from way too many guys and extremely disappointing night," said Lake Superior State coach Damon Whitten. "Essentially 42 seconds of this hockey game cost us. I'm not sure I've ever seen that in my entire life in hockey. 

"We were really poor in defending our net, really soft and really embarrassing quite honestly. We shot ourselves in the foot. We're not going to score six goals many nights and win a 6-5. Just not a good enough defensive focus or effort tonight."

The Lakers outshot the Nooks, 23-26, on the night and were 1-of-6 on the power play. Alaska was 1-of-4.

LSSU will look to rebound to force a series split tomorrow evening at 7:07 p.m. Tickets are available at the Norris Center Ticket Office or by visiting lssulakers.com/tickets. For additional ticket information call 906-635-2602.