SAULT STE. MARIE – After sweeping aside Wisconsin last weekend, the Northern Michigan University hockey Wildcats had more of a battle on their hands Friday against host Lake Superior State.

Tied 2-2 with the Lakers after two periods, the Wildcats got a goal just 13 seconds into the third frame when Darren Nowick tapped a rebound past Lakers goalie Gordon Defiel.

John Siemer then clinched the victory with an empty netter as NMU defeated LSSU, 4-2, in WCHA play.

Gerard Hanson picked up the assist on Nowick’s goal, while Jake Baker assisted on Siemer’s marker.

The Wildcats (3-0 overall, 1-0 WCHA) outshot the Lakers (0-7, 0-3) 33-29 as NMU goalie Mathias Dahlstrom notched his third win of the season.

After falling behind LSSU 1-0 in the first period, NMU got on the board with just more than five minutes gone into the second when Nowick scored his first goal of the game. Siemer and Mitch Jones picked up the assists.

Less than a minute later, the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead when Dominik Shine scored on the power play. The goal was Shine’s third of the year and the assists went to Jones and Brock Maschmeyer.

However, the Lakers tied the game at two goals apiece when Scott Patterson snuck the puck past Dahlstrom. Matt Johnson and Bryce Schmitt got the assists for LSSU.

The two teams will tangle at 7:07 tonight at LSSU.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. He can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 246 or via an email at rstieg@miningjournal.net.