BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - The Lake Superior State hockey program (3-17-2, 2-10-1 CCHA) fell to the Bowling Green Falcons (12-12-0, 9-7-0 CCHA) by a final score of 5-3 after the Lakers' comeback bid came up just short on Saturday.

Both teams battled early, but each goaltender was able to hold their ground between the pipes. However, Evan Dougherty was able to capitalize on a power play opportunity for the Falcons to open up the scoring midway through the opening period, and the score would remain 1-0 going into the first intermission.

Nathan Burke would extend the Falcons' lead to 2-0 with another power play goal just over a minute into the second period, and Ben Wozney made it a 3-0 contest a few minutes later. With the situation becoming dire, Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) would once again step up for his third goal of the weekend off of some nice passing from Louis Boudon (Grenoble, France) and Jacob Bengtsson (Stockholm, Sweden) who each picked up assists on the play as the Lakers converted on a power play of their own. Ryan O'Hara responded for the Falcons shortly thereafter, but at the 14:49 mark, Timo Bakos (Augsburg, Germany) was there with another answer for the Lakers with Logan Jenuwine (Romeo, Mich.) and Bengtsson picking up the assists to close out a wild second period of action.

Both teams went back and forth for a majority of the third period with neither able to find the back of the net, but at the 16:52 mark, Jared Kucharek (Royal Oak, Mich.) used assists from Arvid Henrikson (Stockholm, Sweden) and Bengtsson to slot home his first goal since January 2020 to bring his team back to within one. However, it would not be enough as an empty-netter from Austen Swankler in the closing seconds would ice the game away for Bowling Green. 

Despite the loss, Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) recorded 34 saves between the pipes, and Bengtsson earned a point on all three of the Lakers' goals. Meanwhile, Boudon had a strong outing in the faceoff circle, winning 18 of 25.

The Lakers return to action on Friday, Jan. 13 when they host the Ferris State Bulldogs in the first of a two-game series with puck drop scheduled for 7:07 p.m.