PROVIDENCE EDGED BY LAKE SUPERIOR STATE, 2-1

MADISON, Wis. -- The Providence College men's hockey team was defeated by Lake Superior State, 2-1, Friday night at the 18th Annual Badger Hockey Showdown at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.

The Lakers took a 1-0 lead at 5:29 of the first period when Barnabas Birkeland ripped a slap shot from the top left faceoff circle that beat PC goalie Tyler Sims (Grand Blanc, Mich.) who was screened in front. Despite the goal, Sims had a strong first period, stopping several shots from point blank range. He finished with nine saves in the first 20 minutes.

Lake Superior increased its lead to 2-0 at 1:26 of the second period. The Friars were unable to clear the puck out of their own end and the Lakers took advantage as Trent Campbell slipped the puck to Troy Schwab who tucked the puck into the net from in close. PC controlled much of the second period, outshooting the Lakers, 14-12. PC's best chance to score came with 1:37 left in the second period when senior Dinos Stamoulis (Carle Place, N.Y.) fired a shot from the slot that Jeff Jakaitis saved with his right pad.

The Friars cut the lead in half at 15:34 of the third period when John Cavanagh (Warwick, R.I.) slipped a backhanded pass in front to Matt Taormina (Washington Township, Mich.) who fired in his second goal of the season. The Friars kept pressuring the Lakers and pulled Sims for an extra skater with 1:14 in an effort to tie the game. PC had a golden chance to score the equalizer with two seconds remaining as Chase Watson (Media, Pa.) set up Jon Rheault (Deering, N.H.), but Jakaitis slid over to his right and made the save. Jakaitis finished with 37 saves, while Sims stopped 28 shots for the Friars, who outshot Lake Superior State, 38- 30.