SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team dropped a 5-1 game against the No. 1 Minnesota State Mavericks on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Mankato Civic Center in Mankato, Minn. With the defeat, the Lakers overall record falls to 5-13-1 as well as 3-7-1-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) games.
The first period was evenly contested between the Lakers and the Mavericks as the opening twenty minutes ended in a scoreless tie. Lakers goalie Mareks Mitens stopped all 11 shots on goal that the Mavericks took in the period while Minnesota State's Dryden McKay made seven saves.
Minnesota State scored the game's first goal at 4:57 of the second period when Dallas Gerads netted a power play goal. With quick puck movement and passing while on the man advantage from Marc Michaelis and Charlie Gerard, the Mavericks were able to capitalize to take a 1-0 lead. At 14:21 of the period, the Mavericks would double the lead when Parker Tuomie scored the eventual game winning goal with Minnesota State's second power play goal of the game.
Sophomore Pete Veillette would record his third point in the past two games when he got the Lakers on the board at 18:50 of the period. Veillette's fifth goal of the season was scored off a rush up the ice started by sophomore defenseman Jacob Nordqvist. Nordqvist connected a pass to freshman Louis Boudon who would send a cross ice pass to Veilliette, who was driving to the net on the play. Veillette was able to tap the puck past McKay into the Mavericks open net.
In the third period, the Lakers had chances in the early stages to tie the game at two. The nation's best team would secure the win as the Mavericks scored three more times before the game ended. Jared Spooner would tally two goals and Jake Jaremko would also score in the final period for Minnesota State.
Mitens finished the game stopping 26 of 31 shots while McKay made 20 saves in the win.
Up Next
The Lakers and Minnesota State will face off again tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. at the Mankato Civic Center.
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