MANKATO, Minn. - The Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey team (8-9-1, 6-4-0 CCHA) fell in overtime on the road against the league-leading, No. 12 Minnesota State Mavericks (14-4-2, 9-1-2 CCHA) by a final score of 3-2 on Saturday.

Rhett Pitlick put the Mavericks on the board just under five minutes into the game, and Josh Groll doubled up the score less than a minute later. However, after a slow start in the opening period, the Laker defense was able to lock in, preventing Minnesota State from scoring again for the remainder of regulation.

John Herrington (Hudson's Hope, B.C.) was able to give some momentum to the Laker offense late in the second period with a power play strike less than a minute before the intermission with some help from Branden Piku (Harrison Twp., Mich.) and Evan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn.). Then, at the 15:46 mark of the third, Jacob Conrad (Green Bay, Wis.) tied up the score with his second goal of the season, sending the game into overtime.

LSSU thought they had won the game in overtime with a goal from Piku. However, after review, the goal was overturned due to goaltender interference, and with a minute left in the extra frame, Groll fired in the game-winner for the Mavericks to steal away the second league point of the night. 

The Lakers will return to action in three weeks time when they host the Bowling Green Falcons in Taffy Abel Arena on Jan. 3 with puck drop scheduled for 7:07 p.m.