MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Trailing by one score with 6:18 remaining in Friday night's game against Lake Superior State, a five-minute major for cross-checking charged to the Lakers put Lindenwood on the power play with an opportunity to erase a three-goal deficit for the second consecutive night. However, it was not to be, as Lake State (1-1-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) killed off the lengthy penalty before salting away the remaining 1:18 to hold off the Lions (2-2-0) for a 4-3 win.
The loss came despite Lindenwood registering nearly 30 more shots than their opponent with difference of 52-29. The Lions were aggressive from the start but were unfortunately unable to convert that aggression into a score. "I thought we started great and couldn't score", said Lindenwood head coach
Keith Fisher, "… and that happens… then we turn the puck over and they come down and score".
The opening Laker goal followed the first of four unsuccessful power plays for Lindenwood, as Calem Mangone lit the lamp on assists from
Charles Savoie and Cooper Foster before Savoie doubled their lead with a goal of his own less than four minutes later, recording his fifth point of the weekend in his old barn.
Lindenwood answered just under four minutes into the second period, with
Tyler Loughman scoring from the crease for his first goal of the season. However, the Lakers would answer back with a Caper Nassen goal on the second of two consecutive power plays for Lake State before Calem Mangone scored his second goal of the night to extend their advantage to three.
Chase LaPinta would pull the Lions back within striking distance in the waning seconds of the second period, beating the opposing goaltender with a wrister from the top of the slot following a LSSU turnover. "It was a huge goal by
Chase LaPinta there right at the end of the second", said Fisher, "Now you got a shot."
The Lions would further improve their chances at the 8:14 mark of the third period, with
Adam Raesler following a
Brody Mortensen shot that deflected off the goaltender's pads and burying the puck into the back of the net to make the score 4-3.
However, despite recording 15 more shots than the Lakers and spending five minutes on the power play in the period, Lindenwood was unable to find an equalizer as they dropped their second game of the new season.
Quotable
"Tough loss. I actually thought we did a lot of good things, but the margin between winning and losing is so thin… Give them credit. Every mistake we made went into the back of the net… they finished on their opportunities. I thought it was a good weekend of hockey" –
Keith Fisher
Next Up
The Lions make their first road trip of the season next week as they head to Colorado Spring to faceoff against Air Force. Game one against the Falcons is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. CT on Thursday, October 15
th with game two following at the same time on Friday, October 16
th.
