Club hockey swept by Saginaw Valley

The looks on the players’ faces Saturday defined the club hockey team’s mood — it was a weekend to forget.

Central was swept by Saginaw Valley State after an overtime loss Friday and a seven-goal loss Saturday.

The team gave up a 4-2 lead Friday in the third period and lost 6-5 in overtime. However, Central never led in Saturday’s 11-4 loss. It was the most goals allowed in a series by Central since it gave up 18 to Ohio State Jan. 30 and 31 of last season.

Saginaw Valley scored 26 seconds into Saturday’s game, and Central could only hold a one-goal deficit for seven minutes.

Central coach Mike Jakubik said in his seventh year associated with the team, he does not recall a weekend “so horrible.”

“The team lacked heart,” he said. “We didn’t have any effort or drive out there, it seemed like.”

The power play continues to curb Central’s offensive opportunities, Jakubik said. He said the team cannot afford to blow 5-on-3 advantages, which it did Friday. It also had five power-play opportunities Saturday, but failed to score.

Different competition

Saginaw Valley is a Division III team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. CMU competes at the Division II level. However, Saginaw Valley (8-5) won its division’s national championship last season.

Jakubik said he expects Central will take a hit to its American Collegiate Hockey Association No. 7 ranking after the new rankings come out this week.

“Maybe having the week off, we got lazy and forgot how to play. I don’t know,” he said. “But we’ll make sure that they get their conditioning skating this week, that’s for sure.”

Senior center Mike Lesnau played his first games this year after a full recovery from shoulder surgery and rehabilitation. He said it was not the kind of returning weekend he envisioned.

“We just need to get our stuff together,” Lesnau said. “Everyone needs to start contributing.”

Central (5-7) faces No. 1 Michigan State (7-2) next weekend in a home-and-home series. The 9 p.m. game Friday is in East Lansing and the 4 p.m. Saturday game is in Mount Pleasant.