MARQUETTE, Mich. – Lake Superior State hockey dropped the second game of its two-game weekend series with Northern Michigan, 5-3, on Saturday night at Berry Events Center.
Lake Superior State (20-10-2, 15-9-2-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) scored the first goal of the game, but Northern Michigan (17-14-2, 16-8-2-0 WCHA) scored the next two goals to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Wildcats after the first 20 minutes of play. Senior center Gage Torrel tallied his seventh goal of the season for the Lakers, assisted by junior defenseman Collin Saccoman and junior winger Brayden Gelsinger, at the 3:24 mark. Troy Loggins scored the first two Wildcat goals — both on the power play — at 16:16 and 19:28, respectively.
In the second period, Lake Superior State outscored Northern Michigan 2-1 to tie the game at 3-3 going into the second intermission. The Wildcats' Garret Klee scored the first goal of the period at the 2:12 mark to make the score 3-1, before the Lakers responded with the final two goals of the period. Gelsinger notched his 10th goal of the season, assisted by freshman winger Ashton Calder, at 12:26. Calder then scored a goal of his own, his fourth of the season, at the 14:12 mark. Sophomore defenseman Tyler Anderson and Gelsinger assisted on Calder's goal.
In the third period, the Wildcats scored the only two goals to hand the Lakers the 5-3 defeat. Denver Pierce scored both Wildcat goals. His first goal came at the 2:05 mark and his second goal came on the power play at 8:00.
Sophomore netminder Mareks Mitens (6-5-0) made 23 saves for Lake Superior State, while Atte Tolvanen (17-14-2) stopped 26 shots for Northern Michigan.
The Lakers went 0-of-4 on the power play and the Wildcats were 3-of-5.
Shots on goal were 29-28 in favor of Lake Superior State.
After this weekend, Lake Superior State is in fourth place in the WCHA standings with 47 points. Immediately on either side of the Lakers in the standings are Northern Michigan in third place with 50 points and Bemidji State in fifth place with 45 points.
With the win, Northern Michigan claimed the 2018-19 Cappo Cup, which is awarded annually to the winner of the season series between Northern Michigan and Lake Superior State. The Cappo Cup was first awarded by the late Monsignor Louis Cappo in 1991 and has been awarded to the team that claims the season series every year since the 1994-95 season.
The Lakers return home for their final regular-season home series when they host Ferris State on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The team's seniors will be honored with a ceremony on Saturday as part of Senior Night. Tickets may be purchased at the Norris Center Ticket Office or online. For additional ticket information, call (906) 635-2602.
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Watch head coach Damon Whitten's postgame interview below.