SAULT STE. MARIE - Thanks to junior Rick Schofield tallying his second game-winning goal in as many nights, Lake Superior State skated off with a 5-4 sudden-death overtime victory over Nebraska-Omaha Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena.

LSSU (14-8-4, 9-7-2-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) swept UNO (10-11-5, 6-10-2-1 CCHA) in the weekend series and finished 3-1 against the Mavericks during the regular season. The Lakers, for the third time this season, recorded a CCHA sweep. The Lakers also swept Bowling Green and Northern Michigan. They are now alone in fourth place in the league standings, four points behind third-place Ferris State and one point ahead of fifth-place Alaska.

The Lakers found the back of the net three times in the first period. LSSU junior forward Will Acton (7-13--10) scored at 4:41 from senior defender Simon Gysbers (5-9--14) to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. While on the penalty kill, senior forward Zac MacVoy (6-14--20) skated down the ice to score an unassisted, shorthanded goal at 7:13.

UNO's Matt Ambroz scored from Alex Hudson at 9:29 to cut the lead to 2-1. The Lakers rounded out the first-period scoring with an unassisted goal from freshman forward Domenic Monardo (3-6--9). 

The Mavericks tied the game at 2:51 of the second period. Brandon Richardson scored with assists going to Joey Martin and Brent Gwidt.

At 9:46 of the third, Acton scored his second goal of the night to give the Lakers a 4-3 lead. Freshman defenseman Zach Trotman (1-6--7) took advantage of a UNO turnover and flipped the puck off the wall, and it found Acton's stick. The Mavericks's Jeric Agosta answered back, scoring at 16:48 of the third.

LSSU and UNO headed into the five-minute sudden death tied 4-4. Schofield (13-10--23) scored with only 1:17 left in the overtime. Acton and senior defenseman Steven Kaunisto (2-7--9) had the assists.

Schofield recorded both game-winning goals for this series, giving him a total of five for the season.

LSSU held the Mavericks to 0-for-4 on the power-play, while the Mavericks held the Lakers to 0-for-5.

Junior goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson made 40 saves for the Lakers for a total of 77 for the series. UNO's Jeremie Dupont took the loss with 20 saves. UNO starting goalie John Faulkner gave up three goals and had two saves through the first 10:26.

The Lakers will return to the Taffy Abel Arena Jan. 22-23 to face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Both games begin at 7:05 p.m.

Lake Superior State vs. Nebraska-Omaha