Lakers win shootout with Jean's seventh-round goal
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Lake Superior State tied Western Michigan, 4-4, Saturday and won the shootout 1-0 in the seventh round. The Lakers have played to a shootout during their last three home games and have won two of the three. Both LSSU and WMU took three points for the weekend.
LSSU (6-11-7 overall, 4-8-6-4 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) took two points from Western Michigan (12-6-8 overall, 6-5-7-4 CCHA) when freshman forward Kyle Jean netted the only shootout goal of the contest during the seventh round. Jean’s shootout goal was the first of his collegiate career.
The Lakers led the game 1-0 after senior forward Will Acton (4-9—13) netted a power-play goal at 15:04 of the first period. It was assisted by sophomore forward Domenic Monardo (8-13—21), who contributed three assists for the night, and senior defender Matt Cowie (4-4—8).
Western Michigan's Matt Tennyson, Shane Berschbach and Chase Balisy answered by scoring three goals during the first eight minutes of the second period.
At 11:41 of the second, Acton netted his second goal of the night from Monardo and senior forward Rick Schofield (10-11—21), trimming WMU's lead to 3-2.
LSSU freshman forward Kellan Lain (2-2—4) tied the game, 3-3, at 18:05 of the second with a power-play goal from freshman forward Zach Sternberg (0-1—1).
With less then two minutes left in regulation, the Broncos’ Kyle O’Kane netted a go-ahead goal on assists from Derek Roehl and Ben Warda. With one minute remaining, LSSU went on the power-play and pulled goaltender Kevin Kapalka in favor of an extra attacker. Schofield tied it, 4-4, with a rebound shot off attempts from senior forward Chad Nehring (3-3—6) and Monardo, who picked up assists.
Kapalka (5-6-6-4) totaled 17 saves for the night, including four in the OT period. Western Michigan’s Jerry Kuhn made 20 saves. LSSU was 3-for-8 on the power play, while WMU was 1-for-4. Tennyson tallied the Broncos' lone power-play goal.
The Lakers travel to Bowling Green State Jan. 28-29. Earlier this season, LSSU and BGSU played at the Taffy Abel, and both games ended with shooting wins in favor of the Lakers.
