By Brad Coccimiglio
SooToday.com
Sunday, November 01, 2009

It was a tough weekend for Lake Superior State University hockey.

The Lakers dropped a pair of games to nationally ranked University of Michigan by scores of 5-1 and 6-3 on Friday and Saturday nights. Michigan entered the weekend ranked fifth nationally.

On Saturday night Chris Brown and Ben Winnett scored a pair of goals each to pace the Wolverines attack. Matt Rust and Tristin Llewellyn also scored in the win. Louie Caporusso set up a pair of goals. Goaltender Bryan Hogan had a busy night, stopping 35 shots, including 18 in the opening period, for the win.

For the Lakers, Will Acton and Fred Cassiani scored a goal and an assist each while Chad Nehring also scored.

“We had some chances on the power play but they made the play to make it 4-2 on the power play,” said Lakers coach Jim Roque. “They executed a little better than we did. I thought our effort level was outstanding. We had some chances. We have to get better in some areas.

“I was really happy. After tonight our guys competed with Michigan. We skated with them. I just thought their execution level was a little better than ours.”

Michigan coach Red Berenson was pleased with the weekend overall and was impressed with the Lakers.

“It was a good weekend for us, I thought we played pretty well in both games,” said Berenson. “We found a way to come out of here with two wins. I don’t think too many teams are going to come out of here with two wins this year, the Lakers are too good.”

On Friday night, the Wolverines received goals from five different players in their 5-1 victory. Scooter Vaughan, Carl Hagelin, Matt Rust, Luke Glandening and Caporusso completed the scoring for Michigan. Hagelin and Glendening also had assists in the win.

Brad Cooper, on the power play, scored the lone goal for Lake State in the loss.

The series sweep improves Michigan’s record to 4-2 overall (2-0 conference record, while the Lakers fall to 4-4 overall (1-3 conference record).

After a six game homestand , the Lakers hit the road next weekend when they travel to Kalamazoo to take on Western Michigan next weekend. The following weekend will see the Lakers travel to Omaha, Nebraska to take on the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Next home action will be when the Lakers host Alaska (Fairbanks) on Nov. 20 and 21.