SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. - The Lake Superior State hockey program (1-6-1, 0-2-0 CCHA) fell to the Northern Michigan Wildcats (7-5-0, 3-1-0 CCHA) by a final score of 5-3 on Saturday.

Both teams opened the contest feeling each other out with multiple saves from each goaltender, but the Lakers were able to strike first with a strike from sophomore forward Timo Bakos (Augsburg, Germany) after being set up by Joshua Wildauer (Dearborn Heights, Mich.) and Benito Posa (Flint, Mich.) midway through the opening period. The Lakers would then double up their lead a few minutes later after senior captain Louis Boudon (Grenoble, France) made up for losing a faceoff by immediately stealing away the puck and finding Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) for the score. 

The Wildcats were able to get on the board just over a minute into the second period with goal from Artem Shlaine, but the Lakers responded with a shorthanded goal as Dawson Tritt (Spokane, Wash.) stole the puck in the neutral zone for a breakaway to push the lead back out to two goals. However, Northern Michigan was able to strike quickly as Joey Larson and AJ Vanderbeck combined for two goals within the span of 70 seconds of game time to knot up the score at 3-3 after an action-packed second period. 

The Wildcats would take the lead on a power play at the 1:14 mark of the third period. The Lakers would have several quality chances to tie the game, but they were unable to capitalize as the Wildcat goaltender Beni Halasz was ready for all of them before an empty-netter from Vincent de Mey iced the game away.

Despite the loss, Roy has now scored a goal in the last three consecutive games that he has played, and Boudon is now within two points of 100 on his career. Meanwhile, freshman defender Bryan Huggins (Grand Rapids, Mich.) finished with the top +/- rating on the team (+2). 

The Lakers will look to bounce back when they travel to Houghton, Mich. for a two-game series against the Huskies of Michigan Tech with the first puck drop of game one scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:07 p.m.