WEST DUNDEE, Ill. – The Roosevelt University ACHA Division 1 men's hockey team earned an important split from a weekend series against Northern Illinois last Friday and Saturday in West Dundee.
ROOSEVELT 7, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3 – FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Nick Privitera opened the scoring in the first period then tucked home an important insurance goal in the third period of the Lakers' victory. He was one of four Lakers who finished with three points on the night as Roosevelt was in control of the game in the opening 40 minutes. Although Roosevelt just scored once in the first period, it peppered the Northern Illinois net with 18 shots while allowing just six to reach Nicholas Kotz.
The Lakers doubled the Huskies 20-10 in shots in the second period and scored three more goals to take a 4-0 lead after 40 minutes. Zachary Demarce scored 6:36 into the second period to make it 2-0 then Gage McNeish scored three minutes later. Griffin Lehet scored the first of his two goals on the day just 38 seconds after McNeish. However, the Huskies scored twice in the opening 3:18 of the third period to halve Roosevelt's lead before Privitera scored 6:31 into the third to regain the momentum.
Northern Illinois outshot Roosevelt 16-14 in the third period, but the score was tied 3-3 for the period as Lehet and Cade Swygert added goals for the Lakers in the final 20 minutes. Lehet and Privitera both scored two goals and added an assist while Swygert finished with a goal and two assists. Chase Caravella dished out an assist in each period to finish with three assists on the night.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3, ROOSEVELT 2 – SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Saturday's game went against the momentum of play for both teams for much of the 60 minutes. Northern Illinois came out with a lot of pressure and outshot the Lakers 17-10 in the first period, but the game remained scoreless. Roosevelt struck twice in the first half of the second period with Danny Bdzoch scoring his 11th goal of the season just 4:46 into the period. Chase Caravella then scored roughly three minutes later to stake the Lakers to a 2-0 lead.
Northern Illinois tied the game within a 62-second span in the second period en route to leading the shot total 17-12 for the period. The third period tilted heavily in Roosevelt's favor as the Lakers held a 19-6 advantage in shots, but the Huskies scored 13 minutes into the period to steal the home win. Paola Suppa stopped 37 of the 40 shots he faced for the Lakers, who finished with a 41-40 edge in shots despite the loss.
The Lakers return to the ice this weekend in Michigan with a pair of games at Davenport on Friday and Saturday. Friday's game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. and Saturday's contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Grand Rapids, Mich.
