It hasn’t rained hardly any in Huntsville the past month. But so far this season for the Chargers, when it does rain, it certainly does pour. And coming home after three straight weekends on the road has not helped, at least not yet.
UAH lost to Lake Superior State by a score of 6-3 on Friday at the Von Braun Center in its home opener. After starting the season with two wins, the Chargers have lost four of their last five with a tie. In the four loses, UAH has been outscored 23-6.
UAH fell to 2-2-1 in WCHA play, while it was the conference opener Lake Superior State (3-0-0 overall).
The Lakers, who scored 13 goals in a season-opening sweep over Michigan State at home, got back at it early in this one. Brayden Gelsinger beat UAH goaltender Matt Larose at a narrow angle, just in front of the goal line on the left side, at 1:03.
Lake Superior State made it 2-0 at 10:44 as Gage Torrel snuck the puck past Larose and a crowd of Chargers in front of the net, just after a Laker power play ended.
UAH got on the board early in the second period, as Brennan Saulnier from the left boards fed Josh Kestner in the high slot, and Kestner slapped the puck past Gordon Defiel at 3:34.
Then the Lakers unloaded with four goals in 7:27. Gelsinger got it started, skating his way around a couple of Chargers and scored high on Larose to make it 3-1.
LSSU would get another sneaker in with 6:58 left in the second, thanks to Diego Cuglietta, for a 4-1 lead.
Cuglietta struck gain with a shorthanded breakaway with 4:48 left. 5-1 Lakers. Then J.T. Henke scored with 1:41 left. 6-1 Lakers.
Jordan Uhelski came into the third period at goal for UAH, stopping all six shots he faced.
Jordan Larson scored his second goal of the season at 3:06 of the third to cut LSSU’s lead to 6-2. He was assisted by Matt Salhany, who won the faceoff in the right circle and passed to Larson in the slot.
Brandon Salerno’s backhander at the doorstep with 1:29 left made it 6-3, assisted by Josh Kestner and John Teets, who got his first UAH career point.
The Chargers had more offensive pressure in the third period, outshooting the Lakers 11-6. That evened the final shots count at 31 apiece.
UAH lost its home opener for the eighth consecutive season.
Game two of the series is Saturday at 7:07 p.m. at the Von Braun Center.
Three stars of the game:
- Diego Cuglietta, LSSU (2 goals, 1 assist)
- Brayden Gelsinger, LSSU (2 goals)
- Josh Kestner, UAH (1 goal, 1 assist)