Box Score
Season Stats

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan battled back from a late 3-2 defecit to earn a draw with Lake Superior state on Friday night in front of 2,351 fans at Lawson Ice Arena.

With 4:33 remaining in the third period Western Michigan (7-19-3, 3-16-2 CCHA) junior captain Jeff LoVecchio fired off a shot that was blocked by Lake Superior (5-15-6, 3-13-5 CCHA) goalie Brian Mahoney-Wilson. Mahoney-Wilson was unable to control the rebound and freshman center Max Campbell made his way through traffic to pick up the puck and fire it in for his sixth goal of the season. LoVecchio picked up his 11th assist on the season and second of the game, while junior Patrick Galivan picked up his team-leading 20th assist and also second of the game. The late goal tied the game, 3-3, and both teams clamped down on defense to eventually earn the tie and the point.

"I think it was a very evenly matched game," said head coach Jim Culhane. "They did score first and were able to continue to get the lead but we had contributions from a lot of people. We were down late in the third period and Max [Campbell] was going to that critical scoring area in the slot and was rewarded for it. It was one of those areas where there was a lot of traffic and he got the puck in the net for us. We were competing real hard for a point for 65 minutes."

The Broncos put forth an excellent defensive effort and killed off all three LSSU power plays. This is the third straight game WMU has not allowed a power play goal, killing off nine last weekend against Alaska. The Brown & Gold defense blocked 18 shots, with senior defenseman Nathan Ansell blocking five on his own. WMU goaltender Riley Gill (5-13-2) earned 30 saves and his counterpart stopped 29.

The Lakers struck first at the 8:40 mark of the first period. Troy Schwab passed to Chad Nehring who skated in on net from the left side and put the puck between WMU goaltender Riley Gill's legs for his third goal on the season. Schwab picked up his 13th assist on the season and the Lakers took a 1-0 lead.

Western Michigan tied the game up, 1-1, after Cam Watson put the puck passed Mahoney-Wilson for his eight goal of the season. Senior winger Jeff Pierce took the initial shot, Brian Bicek took the rebound and fired it on net, and then Pierce took another shot. Watson then took the rebound from Pierce's second shot and put it in. Pierce and Bicek each earned assists on the goal, with Pierce nabbing his sixth helper on the season and Bicek picking up his fifth.

Lake State jumped ahead 2-1 midway through the second period on a backhander by Steve Olesky. Olesky took the puck and skated it between the circles and fired a backhander while getting bulled over by WMU winger Matt Clackson and beat Gill on his stick side. Will Action and Jason Blain each picked up assists on the goal.

The Brown & Gold showed their resiliency and knotted the game, 2-2, with just four seconds remaining in the second period. On the power play Galivan fired the puck wide but Pierce picked it up from the goal line and threw it on net. The puck hit a LSSU player's skate and deflected in for his seventh goal of the season. Galivan picked up his 19th and LoVecchio tallied his 10th assist on the season.

The Lakers took the lead again, 3-2, 7:10 into the third period when the Broncos tried to clear the puck from their zone but it was kept in by Rick Schofield. Schofield found Zac MacVoy in the center of the blue line. MacVoy moved forward and fired it on net. Gill made the initial save with his glove but only tipped it. The puck flipped over his glove and rolled into the net. L

ake Superior got the only shot off on goal in the overtime period and the Broncos killed off a late 20-second power play.

Western Michigan and Lake Superior State will battle again on Saturday night at 7:35 p.m. The Broncos will also be celibrating Hockey Cares night and will be taking donations for the American Cancer Society. To honor cancer survivors and families of cancer victims, the Brown & Gold will don their black jerseys and wear pink ribbon stickers on their helmets. WMU players also have the option of wearing pink laces and wrapping their sticks in pink or blue.