Box Score SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Despite a two goal lead going into the first intermission, the Alaska Nanooks hockey team fell to the Lake Superior State Lakers 3-2 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association meeting at the Taffy Abel arena on Friday night. The loss drops the Nanooks to a 2-5-0 overall record (1-2-0 WCHA), while the Lakers improve their undefeated record of 5-0-0 overall (3-0-0 WCHA).
Sophomore forward Chad Staley put the Nanooks on the board first, scoring on an unassisted wrap-around at the 16:22 mark of the first period. After a scrum in front of the net, Staley picked up the puck toward the tops of the circle before coming in looking to shoot strong-side. LSSU's goaltender Gordon Defiel cheated toward the strong-side post before Staley faked a shot, held on the puck and went around the net before burying the puck. The goal marks Staley's third of the season, tying him for first on the team in points with five.
Less than a minute later (17:18), freshman defenseman Tristan Thompson scored his second power play goal of his career off a slapshot at the top of the circles to give Alaska a two-goal lead. After a Nanook shot on goal, a scramble in front of Defiel gave senior forward Marcus Basara an opportunity to kick the puck out to Thompson, who one-timed it past Defiel for his second point of his career. Basara and freshman defenseman Danny Kiraly was credited the assists, marking a two-game point streak for both.
After a fast-paced first period, penalties riddled the Nanooks who eventually gave up a power play goal to the Lakers at the 3:51 mark of the second period. Lake Superior's Owen Headrick scored to pull the Lakers to within one, before his teammate Max Humitz tied the game up 2-2 at the 4:42 mark at even strength.
LSSU's Diego Cuglietta scored a shorthanded, unassisted goal at the 13:26 mark to give the Lakers a 3-2 lead and eventually, the game-winning goal.
Sophomore goaltender Jesse Jenks made 24 saves for the Nanooks, including nine in both the first and second period, while Defiel made 19 on the other end of the ice. As a team, the Nooks were outshot by the Lakers 27-21 and went 1-7 on power play opportunities, while LSSU went 1-10.
The Nanooks and the Lakers meet again tomorrow at the Taffy Abel Arena in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, with puck-drop slated for 3:07pm AKT.
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks hockey team page on Facebook.
