SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team skated to a 5-1 win over the Bowling Green Falcons on Friday, Feb. 25 at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. in the first game of the final regular season series of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA) season. With the victory, the Lakers improve to 16-16-1 overall and 12-13-0 in conference play this year 

Junior forward Brandon Puricelli opened the scoring for the Lakers and junior forward Logan Jenunwine scored the next three goals with a natural hat trick. Junior forward Louis Boudon scored the Lakers fifth goal in the win. Junior goaltender Seth Eisele stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced to record his eighth win of the season. 

The Falcons opened the game's scoring at 9:08 of the first period when forward Coale Norris scored a power play goal to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Alex Barber and Taylor Schneider registered the assists on the goal. 

At 15:10 of the first period, Puricelli notched his ninth goal of the season, tying him for the second on the team in the category. The junior forward's goal came following a strong shift in the offensive zone from him and his linemates, freshman Dawson Tritt and sophomore Harrison Roy. Puricelli gained the zone and Roy made a diving play along the boards to get the puck to Tritt. Tritt then carried the puck up through the circle and drove to the crease to throw the puck towards Bowling Green netminder Christian Stoever. Puricelli followed up on the play and batted the loose puck into the net to tie the game at one. 

The Lakers were called for a too many men penalty at 16:07 of the second period and Jenuwine served the bench minor for LSSU. As the penalty expired, the Falcons sent a shot wide of the net and Jenuwine grabbed the loose puck as he left the penalty box. Jenuwine drove to the net and pushed the puck under Stoever's pad to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead. Jenuwine's first goal of the game, which was unassisted, stood as the game winner. 

With less than a minute to play in the second period, Jenuwine netted his second goal of the game to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead. Boudon carried the puck into the offensive zone and slid a pass to freshman Josh Nixon, who then circled behind the Laker net before reconnecting with Boudon. The Laker captain sent a quick pass from the goal line to Jenuwine who was all alone outside the crease. Jenuwine sent a quick shot into the top corner at 19:07 to give his team a two-goal lead headed into the final period. 

Jenuwine completed his first career hat trick at 9:51 of the third period when he gave the Lakers a 4-1 lead over the Falcons. Senior forward Miroslav Mucha won a puck battle in the corner of the Lakers end and chipped a pass behind the net to junior defenseman Jake Willets. After Willets banked a pass off of the glass, Jenuwine grabbed the puck and skated up the ice on a three-on-one. Jenuwine beat Stoever on his blocker side for his seventh goal of the season. 

The Lakers capped off the game's scoring at 17:22 of the third period when Boudon scored an empty net goal to seal the conference win. Boudon's goal was assisted by Mucha and senior defenseman Jacob Nordqvist.

The regular season will conclude tomorrow night as the Lakers and Falcons close out the weekend series with home ice in the Mason Cup Quarterfinals on the line at the Taffy Abel Arena with puck drop set for 6:07 p.m. Prior to the game, the Lakers will hold a pre-game ceremony to honor its graduating senior class. 

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