Lakers end regular season with one-goal loss at NMU

MARQUETTE - Northern Michigan took off to a three-goal lead early in Friday's Central Collegiate Hockey Association game and did the same by the midway point of Saturday's contest. Lake Superior State fought back in the third period Saturday, but settled for a 4-3 loss.

NMU (14-15-5 overall, 11-12-5-3 CCHA) won the Cappo Cup total-goals series, 14-9, after finishing 2-0-2 against the Lakers this season. LSSU (10-18-8 overall, 7-15-6-1 CCHA) ended the regular season in 10th place in the CCHA standings.

Wildcats Andrew Fernandez, Tyler Gron and Mark Olver scored as Northern Michigan built a 3-0 lead with nine minutes remaining in the second period. LSSU snapped its season-long 0-for-24 power-play drought against Northern Michigan when Zac MacVoy scored at 18:06 of the second period, cutting NMU's lead to 3-1. Simon Gysbers had the only assist on MacVoy's goal.

Jared Brown scored what proved to be the game-winning goal at 12:37 of the third-period. LSSU's Will Acton answered at 12:55. Rick Schofield, who returned to the lineup after missing three games due to an injury, and Steven Kaunisto were credited with assists as the Lakers trimmed their deficit to 4-2.

MacVoy scored his second goal of the night and fifth goal in four games at 19:12 of the third period. LSSU had pulled goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson in favor of an extra attacker. Troy Schwab and Nathan Perkovich picked up assists.

Mahoney-Wilson, who started for the first time since suffering an injury on Jan. 24, totaled 19 saves, while NMU's Derek Janzen had 20 saves. LSSU was 1-for-7 on the power play. The Wildcats finished 1-for-5. 

Box Score