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Lakeland hockey has had a busy schedule to open the season, including a trip to the Upper Peninsula.

Things got started Nov. 21 with a 6-4 loss to Big Rapids at Sault Ste. Marie.

Big Rapids raced out to a 4-1 lead through two periods, with the lone Lakeland goal coming from Blake Kocsis in the first on assists by Nic Fernandez and Nolan Johnson.

The Eagles pulled back into the game with a powerplay goal from Joey Blackwell 4:53 into the third, with an assist to Kocsis.

Johnson made it 4-3 with 3:34 to play from Matt Lindon and Dakota Racine.

Big Rapids pushed back in front by two with an emptynet goal with 1:05 remaining.

Lakeland again pulled within one when Fernandez lit the lamp on the power play with 15 seconds left. Nick Langley assisted.

Big Rapids scored another goal five seconds later to finish the scoring.

Lakeland’s Brandon Pomerleau took the loss as Big Rapids put up 38 shots.

Lakeland recorded 29 shots.

Sault Ste. Marie 3, Lakeland 2

The Eagles finished the trip Nov. 22 with a close loss.

The Eagles led 1-0 after the first, with Fernandez cashing in a powerplay goal, assisted by Johnson and Kocsis.

Sault Ste. Marie fired back with three goals in the second to lead 3-1 heading into the third.

The Eagles pulled within one late when Fernandez scored again, with assists by Racine and Blackwell with 1:21 to play.

Adam Szymanski stopped 27 of 30 shots faced. The Eagles tallied 32 shots.

Franklin 5, Lakeland 0

The return to lower Michigan did not go as planned, with a shutout loss Nov. 26 to Franklin.

Franklin scored two in the first (shorthanded and on the power play), one in the second and two more in the third.

Pomerleau stopped 34 of 39 shots, while Lakeland was shut out on 24 shots.

Davison 6, Lakeland 4

The Eagles came out hot Dec. 1 against Davison with a 3-1 lead after the first period.

Davison returned the favor with a 3-1 advantage in the second to pull even at 4-4.

Davison scored early in the third and added an insurance goal with a little less than four minutes to play to cap the scoring.

Matt Kovach, Travis Gragg and Brenden Lemp scored in the first. Lewis, Kocsis, Blackwell and Gragg picked up assists.

Bryant Cohen scored on the power play in the second, with Johnson assisting. 

Szymanski was peppered with 38 shots, stopping 32. Lakeland was also busy on offense with 35 shots.

Lakeland 4, Bay Area Thunder 2

The Eagles finally broke into the win column Dec. 5 at home.

The Thunder broke through first less than two minutes in with a powerplay goal.

Lakeland tied the game with 3:25 to play in the first, with Langley scoring from
Kocsis.

Just 26 seconds later, the Thunder went back in front and led 21 entering the second.

It was all Lakeland from there.

The Eagles notched two in the second, starting with a Johnson goal at 1:23 from Fernandez.

Four minutes later, it was Cohen netting a powerplay goal from Johnson and Lewis.

The final goal came with 5:50 to play, by Langley from Kocsis and Kovach.

Pomerleau started and played the first period, stopping five of seven shots. Szymanski finished, stopping all 28 shots he faced.

The Eagles were outshot 35-23.

Original Article: http://www.hometownlife.com/story/sports/high-school/milford/2014/12/11/lakeland-nets-win-starting/20141003/