SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey team lost 5-4 in a season-opening exhibition game against Western Ontario on Saturday at Taffy Abel Arena.

The Lakers trailed 2-0 heading into the second period. Sophomore Domenic Monardo, who led LSSU with two goals and one assist for the night, scored a power-play goal at 4:04 of the second period to cut the Mustangs' lead in half. Less then 45 seconds later Western Ontario answered, taking a 3-1 lead.

Monardo scored his second goal of the night at 6:48 of the middle period, bringing LSSU within one goal of the Mustangs.  

Western Ontario scored two more goals during a four-minute span in the second period to build a 5-2 lead. At 19:22 of the second, LSSU junior Kyle Haines made it 5-3. Sophomore Kyle Pobur rounded out LSSU's scoring 33 seconds into the third period.

LSSU's assistant captian Will Acton notched two assists for the Lakers. Rick Schofield, Ben Power and Zach Trotman also had assists. Five different players scored goals for Western Ontario. Julian Cimadamor led UWO with a goal and two assists.

Laker netminder Brian Mahoney-Wilson made 13 saves for the night. Western Ontario goaltender Keyvon Hunt stopped 37 of 41 Laker shots.

The Lakers host the third annual Superior Cup Oct. 8-9, during Great Lake State Weekend. LSSU will face off against Minnesota-Duluth on Friday and Michigan Tech on Saturday. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m.

LSSU vs. Western Ontario