MANKATO, Minn. - Lake Superior State (LSSU) hockey program earned a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota State Mavericks to keep their hopes of home ice in the opening round of the CCHA Mason Cup Playoffs alive on Friday.

Laker Hobey Baker nominee Jared Westcott (Imperial, Mo.) wasted no time setting the tone for the game, finding the back of the net 32 seconds into the opening period with Dawson Tritt (Spokane, Wash.) and Evan Bushy (Thief River Falls, Minn.) picking up assists on the play for firing away at the goal before Westcott eventually punched it in. Then, at the 7:43 mark, John Herrington (Hudson's Hope, B.C.) was able to steal the puck out of the air and fire it in unassisted to extend the lead to 2-0. Lucas Sowder was able to cut the Maverick deficit in half, but Laker captain Harrison Roy (Lakeville, Mass.) responded with a score a few minutes later with helpers from Bushy and Grant Hindman (Oakland, Mich.) to once again give LSSU a two-goal advantage, closing out a wild opening period of action.

The Lakers would then have to adjust to a new Maverick goaltender as Alex Tracy's night was ended early in favor of Keenan Rancier, and the adjustment would prove to take some time as LSSU was held scoreless in the second period while Minnesota State was able to cut the lead back down to one with a goal from Luc Wilson.

Both teams would battle throughout the third period with neither able to sneak one past the goaltenders, but then, with under a minute and a half to play, Westcott would find Tyler Williams (South Lyon, Mich.) who finished the job with what would ultimately prove to be the game-winner. The Mavericks were able to cut the score to one again in the final minute after pulling their goaltender in favor of an extra attacker, but it was too little too late as the Lakers left the ice victorious. 

With the win between the pipes, Laker goaltender Ethan Langenegger (Kamloops, B.C.) has now set a new career-high for wins in a season after picking up his 11th.

The Lakers will be looking for the weekend sweep on Saturday, Feb. 24 with puck drop scheduled for 7:07 p.m.