SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the No. 1 ranked Minnesota State Mavericks on home ice on Friday, Nov. 26 in a Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) game. With the win, the Lakers improve to 8-8-1 this season and 4-5-0 in conference play. 

Sophomore goaltender Ethan Langenegger played excellent for the Lakers, stopping all 22 shots he faced to record his first career shutout. Junior forward Louis Boudon scored the game's lone goal as the Laker captain scored a shorthanded goal in the first period.  

The Lakers took a 1-0 lead over the Mavericks at 9:20 of the first period when junior forward Louis Boudon scored his first career shorthanded goal which would hold up as the eventual game winner. Lake Superior State's penalty killers pressured the Mavericks in the offensive zone, with Miroslav Mucha recording the lone assist on the play as he forced a turnover, causing one of the point players to turnover the puck at the blue line. Boudon grabbed the loose puck along the boards near the Laker bench and skated in on a breakaway on Minnesota State goaltender Keenan Rancier. Boudon's eighth goal of the season, tied his previous season-high.

Before the end of the first period, the Lakers had a five-on-three opportunity but the Mavericks penalty killers held LSSU off the scoresheet. 

Towards the middle of the second period, the Mavericks came close to tying the game but after a review, the call on the ice stood and the goal was disallowed for goaltender interference. The score remained 1-0 at the close of forty minutes of play. Langenegger kept the Mavericks off the board for the second straight period as he made seven saves, including a point blank save on Ryan Sandelin. 

In the third period, the hard-fought game continued as the Lakers pushed to extend their lead over Minnesota State. Rancier made a strong glove save on Brett Roloson at 7:43 of the period. Sophomore defenseman Artyom Boryshov followed with another great chance but the puck rang off the post, keeping the game at 1-0. At the 15:41 mark of the final period, senior forward Miroslav Mucha nearly doubled the team's lead as he fired off a quick shot from the slot but Rancier made another solid save. 

With under four minutes in regulation, the Mavericks came within inches of tying the game. Langenegger got tied up behind the net with a skate issue and made a diving play to get back to make the save. The shot hit square off Langenegger's chest and the rebound darted out to another Maverick skater. Minnesota State followed up on the rebound and the shot rang off the post to preserve the lead. A scramble in front of the Laker net ensued but the puck stayed out to keep it a 1-0 game with 3:11 left on the clock. 

In the final minutes of the game, the Mavericks were assessed a tripping penalty to give the Lakers a power play with 2:20 on the clock. The Lakers held on in the closing minutes as Minnesota State pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra skater. 

Langenegger finished the game with 22 saves to post his first career shutout, coming against the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. Rancier, who played in his first collegiate game, made nine saves. 

The two teams will close out the season series tomorrow night at the Taffy Abel Arena with the game set for a 6:07 p.m. start. 

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