Sunday, October 20, 2013

Lake Superior State tops Dutchmen, 3-2 (w/ videos)

by Ryan Fay

Lake Superior State topped #15/16 Union, 3-2, in non-conference action Saturday at Messa Rink.

The Lakers won behind the efforts of goaltender Kevin Kapalka, who stopped 46-of-48 shots on a night when Lake Superior State was out-shot 48-to-17.

Colin Campbell's tip-in goal at 12:56 of the second period proved to be the eventual game-winner for the Lakers, who go back to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan with a two-game sweep of the Dutchmen and a 4-0-0 overall record.

The two-game weekend sweep marked the first time Union (1-2-1) went winless in a weekend series at home in nearly a year. The last time that happened was Nov. 30-Dec. 1 of last year, when they lost to Quinnipiac and tied Princeton.

Lake Superior State struck first when Dan Radke's slap shot hit off the post and went into the back of the net at 19:22 of the first period to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead.

Daniel Vernace upped the Lakers edge to 2-0 at 8:23 of the second period.

Just under three minutes later, Matt Wilkins picked up his first goal of the season when he recorded a power play goal for Union on a breakaway to make it a 2-1 game. Wilkins, who was set up by Mat Bodie, had missed the previous two contests with an upper-body injury.

After Campbell made it a 3-1 Lakers lead, Union head coach Rick Bennett pulled goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos, who allowed three goals on 11 shots. Sakellaropoulos was replaced by third stringer Dillon Pieri, who went on to stop all six shots that came his way in his first appearance since last November.

Michael Pontarelli collected a power play goal at 19:04 of the second period to make it a 3-2 game, but that's as close as Union would get. Bodie drew down Kapalka on a fake shot, then passed to the freshman forward who picked up his team-best fourth goal of the season.

Union finished the night 2-for-6 on the power play, and went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

The Dutchmen will look to get back in the win column when they travel to Connecticut for a non-conference game set for 7:00 p.m on Friday.

Box Score

Postgame videos from Saturday's 3-2 loss to Lake Superior

Union head coach Rick Bennett 



Union goaltender Dillon Pieri and defenseman Mat Bodie 



Lake Superior head coach Jim Roque

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