SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team fell to the Bemidji State Beavers by a final score of 4-2 on Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. in the second game of a Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) weekend series. With the loss, the Lakers drop to 7-6-1 overall and 3-3-0 in CCHA competition.
Cole Craft scored his first collegiate goal and Miroslav Mucha recorded the other Laker goal. Laker goaltender Ethan Langenegger finished the game with 24 saves.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead at 3:37 of the first period when Cole Craft scored his first collegiate goal on Bemidji State's goaltender Gavin Enright. After sophomore defenseman Jacob Bengtsson connected a pass to junior forward Dustin Manz, Manz gained the offensive zone. Manz sent a wrist shot on goal from just inside the blue line. Craft drove to the net and was able to follow up on the rebound. The freshman forward's quick shot floated into the top corner of the Beavers net to give the Lakers the early advantage on the scoreboard.
Bemidji State jumped to a 2-1 lead later in the first period with a pair of goals less than three minutes apart. Jere Vaisanen tied the game at one at 9:44 of the first period as he redirected a shot by Aaron Myers past Langenegger. At 12:28 of the first period, Jakub Lewandowski gave the Beavers the lead when he rang a shot off the inside of the post that crossed the goal line. Tyler Kirkup recorded the lone assist on the goal as he forced a turnover in the Laker end to set up Lewandowski for the go-ahead goal.
After a scoreless second period, the Beavers extended their lead to two goals at the 3:29 of the third period. Vaisanen scored his second goal of the game with an unassisted goal after a Laker turnover in the defensive zone.
The Lakers pulled within a goal at 13:16 of the third period when Miroslav Mucha scored his third goal of the season to make it a 3-2 game. With the Lakers putting pressure on the Beavers in the offensive zone, Manz collected the puck along the half boards and sent a pass to Nixon behind the goal. Nixon skated around the net and sent a perfect pass to Mucha who was waiting at the top of the crease. Mucha tipped the puck past Enright with just under seven minutes left in the game.
In the closing minutes of regulation, the Beavers would seal the win with an empty net goal from Owen Sillinger. Sillinger's goal was assisted by Alex Ierullo and Brad Johnson at 18:48 of the third period.
The Lakers finished the game with 27 shots on goal while the Beavers totaled 28 shots. Langenegger made 24 saves in the game for Lake Superior State while Enright stopped 25 shots in the win.
The Lakers will take on the Bowling Green Falcons on the road next weekend in a CCHA series at the Slater Family Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio. The first game is set for a 7:37 p.m. puck drop on Friday, Nov. 12 and the series will wrap up on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7:07 p.m.
For more information, visit lssulakers.com.
Follow Laker Hockey on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest news!