Box Score Lake Superior State got the strong start it was looking for, as Ryan Beck scored 2:02 into the hockey game Friday night. But the #16 Augustana Vikings won the CCHA contest 6-1 after scoring three goals in the third period against LSSU (9-17-1, 6-13-1 CCHA).

The Lakers maintained good offensive zone pressure, with Connor Milburn forcing a turnover on the right wing wall. His plunder led to a pass to the slot, where Beck showed tremendous patience to sneak around a defender's hip and guide a smooth wrist shot into the bottom right corner of the net. It was the kind of opening the Laker Head Coach Damon Whitten loves to see.

But the Vikings chipped away with a first period goal by Brett Meerman that tied the contest 1-1. Leonid Bulgakov scored the first of his two goals to put the Vikings in the lead at 7:31 of the second, and the Vikings scored four in the third to seal the result at Midco Arena in Sioux Falls, SD.

The Lakers dominated the faceoff circle all night, owning around a 2:1 win ratio at the dot for much of the game and finishing 32-17. Carter Batchelder and Wilson Dahlheimer posted very strong numbers for LSSU on the draw, with Batchelder going 12-3 and Dahlheimer winning six of his nine faceoffs.

LSSU produced 42 shots on goal during the game, a season-high. The Lakers blocked seven shots on the other end.

John Herrington made his 100th career appearance for Lake Superior State. The sharpshooting junior from Hudson's Hope, BC, Canada has blossomed during his time at Lake State. He still possesses a cannon for a slap shot, but has grown tremendously as a defensive forward as well. Herrington is a reliable forward who can play well in all situations, often leading from the front for LSSU.

The Lakers face the Vikings again on Saturday at 7:07 PM on Midcoo Sports Plus and 99.5 YES FM. After an off-week, the team returns to action against Michigan Tech in mid-February. Buy your tickets online or at the Norris Center box office.