Another Jakaitis record as Lakers take three of four

NEWS RELEASES

LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

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Lakers take three of four points on the road

Jakaitis breaks school record for most saves in a series

BIG RAPIDS - No. 20 Lake Superior State made the most of its scoring chances to beat Ferris State 4-1 Saturday at Ewigleben Ice Arena and end a five-game winless streak against the Bulldogs.

LSSU (11-5-2 overall, 6-4-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) and Ferris State (4-11-2 overall, 2-9-2 CCHA) tied four of their last five contests.

Lake Superior State came back from a 1-0 first-period deficit with four unanswered goals despite being out-shot 43-20 for the game. Ferris State out-shot LSSU, 93-50, for the weekend, but wound up with only one point. Laker senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis stopped 91-of-93 shots to break Matt Violin's school record for most saves in a series. Violin set the previous record of 88 saves at Alaska on Jan. 17-18, 2003.

Jeremy Scherlinck gave Ferris State a 1-0 lead with an unassisted power-play goal at 9:01 of the first period. LSSU's Jeff Rainville tied it 1-1 at 16:25, and Dan Eves tallied what proved to be the game-winner two minutes later.

LSSU extended the lead to 4-1 in the second period on a power-play goal by Barnabas Birkeland at 6:18 and a short-handed goal by Derek A. Smith at 16:27.

Ferris State was scoreless during the final two periods despite out-shooting the Lakers, 32-14.

LSSU's Derek R. Smith, Matt Martello, Dominic Osman, Rainville, Derek A. Smith and Josh Sim were credited with assists.

LSSU finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while FSU was 1-for-4. Bulldog goaltender Mitch O'Keefe (4-11-2) totaled 16 saves. Jakaitis improved to 7-4-2.

LSSU returns home to play a single game against the U.S. Under-18 team at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16.

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Lakers, Bulldogs skate to 1-1 deadlock

Jakaitis ties career high with 49 saves

BIG RAPIDS - One week after breaking Lake Superior State's career shutout record, LSSU senior goaltender Jeff Jakaitis tied his career high for single-game saves by stopping 49 of 50 shots on goal in Friday's 1-1 overtime tie at Ferris State.

LSSU (10-5-2 overall, 5-4-2 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) and Ferris State (4-10-2 overall, 2-8-2 CCHA) skated to a draw for the fifth time in seven meetings dating back to Nov. 19, 2004. Last season, the Lakers and Bulldogs tied three out of four games.

Jakaitis (6-4-2) posted his first 49-save effort when the Lakers tied Alaska 2-2 on Jan. 28, 2005. He faced more than 40 shots four times last season with his high being a 42-save performance in a 2-2 tie at Ferris State on Jan. 20, 2006.

During the Lakers' 2006-07 season opener against Ohio State on Oct. 13, Jakaitis set his previous season high with 43 saves in a 1-0 loss.

Ferris State's Brendon Connolly gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead with an even-strength goal at 11:22 of the first period. Lake Superior State is 10-0-1 when scoring first, but 0-5-1 when giving up the game's first goal.

LSSU's Derek A. Smith, who went into the game ranked 14th nationally in points by defensemen, tied it 1-1 with an even-strength goal at 9:35 of the second period. Josh Sim and Troy Schwab drew assists.

LSSU finished 0-for-4 on the power play, while Ferris State was 0-for-2. The Bulldogs out-shot the Lakers, 50-30. FSU netminder Mitch O'Keefe (4-10-2) totaled 29 saves.

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