Box Score

Season Stats

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Western Michigan tried to fight back from a 3-0 deficit but was unable to complete the rally and the Broncos fell, 3-2, to Lake Superior in front of 3,005 fans at Lawson Arena on Saturday night.

Nathan Ansell picked up a loose puck with 1:34 remaining in the game and beat LSSU (6-16-6, 4-13-5 CCHA) goalie Pat Inglis on his stick side for his fourth goal of the season and brought Western Michigan (7-20-3, 3-17-2 CCHA) within two, 3-1. Just over a minute later the Broncos scored again, this time with the goaltender pulled and the extra attacker. Junior captain Jeff LoVecchio got a pass from freshman center Max Campbell and fired off three consecutive shots and finally got the third one to go in for his eight of the season. Campbell earned his 14th assist on the season but the goal was scored with four seconds remaining and the Broncos were unable to quickly capitalize off of the face off and dropped their ninth one-goal game this season.

"We are trying to get the puck in the net and traffic to the net," said head coach Jim Culhane. "We are looking for secondary scoring opportunities and looking to make the goalie handle the puck. We had opportunities tonight but we just couldn't get it to the back of the net."

Lake Superior State struck first just 3:04 into the first period. Chad Nehring took a pass from Dan Eves and worked his way around the net. He was skating left to right and falling over and shot the puck to beat WMU goaltender Jerry Kuhn on his lower right side. Eves picked up an assist along with Dillin Stonehouse and the Lakers took a 1-0 lead.

The Broncos fired off nine shots on net and had a great scoring chance midway through the first. A misplay of the puck by LSSU ended up in a one-on-one with WMU freshman Patrick Nagorsen and Inglis. Nagorsen tried to go low for his five-hole but Inglis made a stick save and cleared the rebound.

Western Michigan had a good scoring chance early in the second period when freshman Travis Paeth went streaking down the right side and made an excellent centering pass to freshman Ryan Watson but Watson's shot went wide.

The Lakers pushed their lead to 2-0 midway through the second period when Troy Schwab intercepted and errant Bronco pass. Schwab patiently held the puck and forced Kuhn to make the first move. When Kuhn changed positions Schwab put the puck in a tight window between the post and Kuhn's stick side. The unassisted goal was the fourth of the season for Schwab.

Lake Superior later pushed their lead to three on a goal by Zac MacVoy. Kuhn was out of position and MacVoy intercepted a Bronco pass and fired the puck into a wide open net for his eight goal on the season.

Kuhn made 34 saves on the night and Inglis finished with 33 saves but carried a shut out with just two mintues remaining before the Broncos late goals.

Western Michigan will now face off against Michigan State in a home-and-home series on Feb. 15-16. Michigan State will host at 7:05 p.m. on Friday and the Broncos will host on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. Saturday's game will celebrate Hockey Day in Michigan and will be telivised on Fox Sports Net Detroit.