SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team dropped the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series opener at Abel Arena by a score of 5-4 to Lake Superior State on Friday night. UAH slips to 7-16-2 (7-10-2 WCHA), while LSSU improves to 10-12-3 (7-9-3 WCHA).
 
Turning Point
- After UAH battled back to tie the contest at 4-4 in the third period, LSSU's Mitch Hults provided the game-winning goal at 13:10 of the final frame for the eventual 5-4 victory.
 
Inside the Box Score
- Lake Superior State was first on the board on Friday as Gus Correale netted a shorthanded marker at 8:30 of the opening period, and the 1-0 lead would stand through 20 minutes for LSSU.
- After the break, the Lakers increased their lead in the second period to 3-0 on goals by Hults at 7:36 and JT Henke at 8:59.
- However, UAH ended the hosts shutout bid on Josh Ketner's eighth goal of the season at 11:29 of the second, thanks to assists by Hunter Anderson and Brandon Salerno.
- Both sides would register goals in the waning moments of the second period to make it a 4-2 LSSU lead after 40 minutes, with Kurt Gosselin supplying the Chargers goal at 19:11 and Henke rebounding for the Lakers at 19:30.
- UAH quickly dug into the deficit in the third period as senior captain Brent Fletcher scored his second of the season at 1:06, before Brandon Parker knotted the contest at 4-4 at 7:54 of the stanza.
- Despite outshooting LSSU 15-5 in the third and 33-24 in the game, the Lakers game-winner was potted at 13:10 by Hults en route to the 5-4 victory.
- Jordan Uhelski got the start for the Chargers, allowing four goals and recording 15 saves in 40 minutes between the pipes. Carmine Guerriero finished off the game with one goal allowed and four saves in the third period for UAH.
- Parker and Gosselin tied for the team-high in shots on goal with four apiece.
- UAH held Lake Superior State scoreless in three power-play opportunities.
 
Noteworthy
- Kestner's goal increased his team-best point total to 18 on the year, and he's now scored a goal in three straight league road games.
- Kestner has recorded at least one point in five straight WCHA road games.
- Gosselin's tally was his first goal since recording a hat trick against Ferris State on Dec. 3, giving him a tie for the team lead in goals with eight.
- Anderson registered his first career assist on Kestner's marker.
- Knight has recorded two assists in a game three times this season.
- Parker has scored a goal in six of the Chargers past eight WCHA games.
 
Next Time Out
- The Chargers and Lakers will wrap up the weekend series tomorrow at 6:07 p.m. CST at Abel Arena.