The Chargers are slumping, now even on the road.
Lake Superior scored three unanswered goals to beat UAH 4-1 on Saturday for a series sweep in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
UAH (7-17-2 overall, 7-11-2 WCHA) has lost four straight conference games and six straight overall, dropping the Chargers to eighth place in the league standings with eight games to go.
UAH had won four straight road games and was 6-1-1 in WCHA away contests coming into the weekend.
It won’t get easier when second-place Michigan Tech visits Huntsville next week. After fights broke out after the final whistle, UAH’s Kurt Gosselin, Brennan Saulnier, and Cam Knight each got game disqualifications and will miss Friday’s game against the Huskies.
Lake Superior (11-12-3, 8-9-3), who moved into fifth place, won all four games against the Chargers this season. LSSU’s Diego Cuglietta and Gus Correale each had fighting and game disqualification penalties.
The Chargers pelted LSSU goaltender Gordon Defiel with 15 shots on goal in the third period on Friday, and they continued peppering him in the first on Saturday.
UAH had 19 shots on net — a season high for a period this season, but this time, Defiel was able to get a piece of all of them. The Chargers also had the benefit of a four-minute Charger power play prompted Josh Nenedal, who interfered with Regan Soquila and then roughed Brent Fletcher after the whistle.
Lake Superior only had nine shots on goal in the first, but one did get past Carmine Guerriero. Colin Saccoman followed up on a rebound on Luke Morgan’s shot to score.
UAH tied the game up at 1-1 at 6:36 of the second, when Brandon Salerno powered a low wrister from the slot. His third goal of the season was helped by Josh Kestner 12th assist and Cam Knight’s 13th.
The Chargers almost took their first lead of the season shortly thereafter, when Max McHugh’s backhand on an open net was gloved by a diving Defiel.
Lake Superior regained the lead at 2-1 on Gage Torrel’s goal with 3:19 left in the second, coming during a short Laker power play.
LSSU nearly made it 3-1 when Cuglietta was awarded a penalty shot late in the second after Cody Champagne hooked him. However, Guerriero was able to make the top to keep it a one-goal game at the second intermission.
LSSU actually did make it 3-1 when James Roll drove to the net and beat Guerriero with 12:26 left.
The Lakers were given a gift power play when Brennan Saulnier was given an interference penalty for a clean check on Bryan Basilico. LSSU converted for a 4-1 lead with 8:50 to go, when Max Humitz scored his team-leading 12th goal on a deflection from the high slot.
UAH outshot LSSU 35-29, but was 0-for-5 on the power play. Defiel finished with 34 saves to Guerriero’s 25.