Cullen Maksimowski, LSSULakers.com

SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich.— The Lake Superior State hockey team fell to No.15-ranked Bowling Green Friday evening in the first of a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series inside Taffy Abel Arena.
 
With the loss the, The Lakers drop to 6-19-4 overall and 4-14-3 in league action. The Falcons improve to 15-8-6, 12-4-5.

Both teams traded blows in early in the first period with each team finding the back of the net within the first three minutes of regulation. Lake State struck first when Anthony Nellis scored his ninth goal of the season at the 2:23 mark. Bowling Green's Alec Rauhauser scored 28 seconds later to level the score.

Brayden Gelsinger put the Lakers back in front at the 3:17 mark with his eighth goal of the year on assists from Diego Cuglietta and Max Humitz. BGSU re-knotted the score on a goal from Max Johnson in the tenth minute.

The Falcons took control in the second period outshooting the Lakers, 13-2, with three unanswered goals from Lukas Craggs and Brandon Kruse and Tyler Spezia.

Lake State regrouped heading into the third period and outshot the Falcons, 18-1, in the final 20 minutes of regulation. Freshman Lukas Kaelble notched his first collegiate goal on the power play at the 12:02 mark but it wasn't enough as the Lakers were held scoreless in the final eight minutes.

For the game, LSSU was even with BGSU on the shot chart, 27-27, and went 1-of-4 on power play opportunities. Bowling Green was 1-of-2 with the man advantage.

Junior goaltender Nick Kossoff had a tough night in the net for the Lakers allowing all five goals on 26 shots faced. Freshman Mareks Mitens took over to start the third and made one save.

The Lakers return tomorrow looking for a series split in their final home game of the season. LSSU will honor its senior class with a pregame ceremony. Tomorrow will also be the annual Check Slash Survive cancer fundraiser inside Taffy Abel.

Tickets are available at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online at lssulakers.com/tickets.