A quick turnaround from Saturday night didn't dispel an ounce of the intensity in the second game of the weekend between Lake Superior State and UM Dearborn. Another rough-and-tough, physical hockey game between two quality teams ended in the same scoreline as the night before - 4-0 to the Wolverines (2-0, 2-0 CCWHA).

Lake Superior State (2-2, 0-2 CCWHA) played well in defeat again, head coach Matt Parker said. "We had better puck management today than we did yesterday. Struggled to get some shots on net and when you don't do that, you don't get scoring opportunities. I think we ended really well, we pushed really hard at the end of the game and showed some good grit. I was really happy with our grit this weekend, which we've been working on, so we'll take the small wins."

Parker said after Saturday's game that his focus isn't on individual results. It's about a commitment to the process, using each game to improve and develop. He echoed that sentiment after Sunday's contest.

Much like Saturday, the Lakers and Wolverines went to the first intermission scoreless. UM Dearborn's Grace Adriaanse scored the game's first goal early in the second period. Maya Ferracciolo and Megan Kosempel assisted the score. That would be the only goal for over 20 minutes, until defender Stephanie Hatch struck early in the third. Fellow blueliner Nicole Hahn scored a few minutes later, pushing the score to 3-0. Sydney Gillan finalized the scoresheet with her first of the year at 10:17 of the third, pushing the scoreline to 4-0.

"They're a really well-coached team and they're a gritty team," Parker said postgame. "It was a good series to understand the complexity of teams in women's division 1. Last weekend against Minnesota, it's a little more finesse, a little more puck-passing a little more movement and not a lot of gritty, grinding hockey. This weekend was a lot of gritty, grinding hockey."

No kidding. All 120 minutes of the weekend series saw postseason intensity. Hard-nosed, physical hockey was on display between two teams that plan on a visit to St. Louis in March. Parker likes where his team is at early in the season and understands the importance of riding the rollercoaster of the regular season in order to prepare for the destination.

"I'm super proud of this team. Somebody's got to win and somebody's got to lose. It's a matter of taking your punches and getting back up.  You've got to be a seasoned team that deals with adversity and tough losses."

The Lakers host Aquinas College on October 4^th and 5^th at Taffy Abel Arena. Fans get in to every LSSU men's and women's ACHA hockey home game for free.