With the disappointing weekend against Michigan State University behind them, the Lakers couldn’t get back to their winning ways at Georgetown Ice Arena on Saturday night.

Faster, more physical play from Division I opponent Adrian College left the Grand Valley State University men’s Division II club hockey team with an 8-3 loss.

“It wasn’t an abysmal performance but we have to work (harder), this gives us some humility,” said head coach Mike Forbes. “Eight goals is the most given up since I’ve been coaching here. You take it for what it is, an 8-3 butt kicking. We just have to come back and fight tomorrow.”

Giveaways and an inability to clear the zone led to a two-goal deficit for the Lakers after the first period. Adrian took an early lead off a shorthanded goal scored on a breakaway due to a giveaway by the Lakers in the offensive zone.

With a quick deke, the puck was behind senior goaltender Scott Tiefenthal via the five hole.

“(Adrian) is the number one ranked team in Division I, we knew tonight was gonna be a battle, they’re a run-and-gun team that comes at you hard,” assistant captain senior CJ Pobur said. “It’s a great test for us. We want that measuring stick. We wouldn’t have it any other way. Everything is just preparing us for the national tournament.”

Freshman Tyler Stoller tied the game for the Lakers on a two-on-one with sophomore Matt Smartt on the flank.

Stoller skated the puck into the zone with his head up using Smartt as a decoy, sending a shot straight into the top shelf.

“I heard Smartt (on the other side), but it was early in the game and we wanted to test the goalie so I let (the shot) go,” Stoller said. “We knew they were gonna be a better team and wanted to get pucks to the net.”

Adrian answered back, taking advantage of failed clearing attempts for two more goals before the end of the first period. Both were scored off quickly released shots, giving Tiefenthal little time to react.

The Lakers fortune wouldn’t improve much in the second.

Adrian scored three unanswered goals giving them a 6-1 lead going into the final frame. A 5-on-3 power play midway through the period gave the Lakers some momentum, despite not being able to capitalize, which gave them noticeable more push in the offensive zone.

Sophomore goaltender Doug Chidester replaced Tiefenthal at the start of the third period.

“I wanted to relieve him because there was nothing he could do about any of the goals. It was the cast around him,” Forbes said. “Tiefenthal’s still our number one goalie, it was just one of those nights we didn’t give him the support.”

Despite their deficit, the Lakers did not go away quietly as junior Bob Penrod scored the second goal for the Lakers on the rush beating the Adrian goaltender on the glove side.

Sophomore Corbin Rainey slammed in his ninth of the year as the third man in on a rebound beating the Adrian goaltender up top.

Unfortunately, it was too little too late for the Lakers.

“We got down but the guys on this team showed a lot of heart in the third and we can take that with us going into next weekend, we’ll be prepared,” Pobur said.

Going forward the Lakers look to regain their early season success heading into the national tournament with a rematch against Adrian on the road next Saturday.

“I’m not worried about tonight,” Forbes said. “I’m not worried about next weekend, I’m worried about qualifying for the national tournament, being at the top of our game then. I’d much rather have a bump in the road now then six weeks from now.”

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