Cullen Maksimowski, LSSULakers.com

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.— Missed opportunities plagued the Lake Superior State hockey team Friday as it couldn't find the back of the net in a, 3-0, shutout loss to Bemidji State in game one of a Western Collegiate Hockey Association weekend series inside Taffy Abel Arena.

The Lakers drop to 5-14-4 overall and 3-9-3 in the WCHA with the loss. The Beavers move to 10-6-5, 7-4-4.

"I thought we had some good chances tonight but just couldn't finish or execute," said Lake Superior coach Damon Whitten. "I thought there was three of four (shots) that were almost gimme goals. The whole bench thought they were in and somehow they don't end up in the net.

"We have to learn to fight through that. You can't create confidence for a team. You have to go out there and earn it by playing the right way."

Lake State fell behind the eight ball early as Dylan McCrory scored at the 1:04 mark in the first period. Charlie Combs added a power play goal in the 11th minute.

LSSU battled back in the second and third periods but an empty net goal from Gerry Fitzgerald with under two minutes left in regulation sealed the win for the Beavers.

The Lakers were outshot, 25-21, in the loss and were edged 34-30 on face-offs. Bemidji State was 1-of-4 on power play chance while Lake State went 0-for-2.

Junior goaltender Nick Kossoff turned in another solid outing in the net for Lake Superior making 22 saves on 24 shots faced in his second-consecutive start.

The Lakers will aim for the series split tomorrow at 7:07 p.m. Tickets are available at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online at lssulakers.com/tickets.