SAULT STE MARIE, Mich. -- Western Michigan picked up a crucial road win as they downed Lake Superior State 3-1 on Friday night in front of 2,211 at Taffy Abel Arena.

Three freshmen stood out for the Broncos (16-12-5, 13-9-3-3) in the win with Justin Kovacs turning in his first two-point game of his career with two assists. Freshman netmider Frank Slubowski made 25 saves on the night to earn his 12th win of the season and Will Kessel added the final goal for WMU. The Broncos went 2-for-3 on the power play and also picked up goals from Dane Walters and Chase Balisy. The win keeps the Broncos alone in second place in the CCHA.

The Broncos took an early 1-0 lead at the 6:42 mark of the first period on Walter's 14th of the season. Kovacs had the puck in the neutral zone and used a no-look drop pass to Walters at the blue line and the junior assistant captain went top-shelf on Kevin Kapalka's glove side and into the net.

WMU extended its lead to 2-0 just a few minutes later at the 10:53 mark on a power play goal by Balisy. Kovacs once again set up the goal as he had the puck at the goal line to the right of the net and threw it towards the crease and Balisy redirected it into the net for his 11th of the season. The assist was Kovacs' second on the night and sixth of the season.

LSSU tied it up 34 seconds into the second period after opening play on the power play. Colin Campbell sent the puck towards the net from the right point and Kellan Lain redirected it into the net for his eighth of the season to bring the Lakers within one.

WMU pushed the lead back to two after a power play goal by Kessel at 4:31 in the third period. Luke Witkowski picked up the puck from Dan DeKeyser at center ice and took it all the way in on net for a shot. Kapalka made the save but Kessel came rushing in and punched in the rebound for his fifth goal of the season and second straight game with a goal.

The Broncos and Lakers battle for the final time of the regular season on Saturday night at 7 p.m.