SAULT STE. MARIE, MICH. – The Union College men's hockey team gave up five unanswered goals and fell 5-2 to Lake Superior State University in the series finale Saturday night at Taffy Abel Arena.

First-year Michael Hodge scored his second career goal and second of the weekend to get Union on the board in the first period. Hodge is currently on a four-game point streak stretching back to the Colorado College series, putting together five points (2-3-5) during the stretch.

First-year Tyler Watkins scored his first collegiate goal in the second period while fellow first-year Andrew Seaman earned his first career point with the primary assist on Hodge's goal. Sophomore Liam Robertson put together his first multi-point game of the season, recording assists on both Union goals.

Union went 1-for-4 on the powerplay while Lake Superior State went 2-for-6 with the player advantage.

Hodge opened the scoring 47 seconds into the first period. Robertson won an offensive zone faceoff, passing the puck back to Seaman, who fired a shot on the LSSU netminder. Hodge scooped up the rebound and stuffed it past the skate of Seth Eisele to put the Dutchmen up 1-0.

Penalties played a major role in the second period as both teams racked up three penalties each with both teams capitalizing once. Union went up 2-0 at 4:44 of the second period with a powerplay goal. Watkins gained possession in the neutral zone, weaving through the Lakers' defense before scoring on a wraparound shot.

The lead didn't last as the Lakers struck twice in the second period, tying the game at two. Timo Bakos scored his second of the game and eventual game winner 12:58 into the third period.

Union pulled junior Connor Murphy for an extra attacker with less than three minutes to play, but the Lakers were quick to capitalize, scoring two empty net goals to seal the victory 5-2.

Murphy was tagged with the loss, turning aside 24 shots in 58:51 minutes of play. The junior now sits at 1-3-1 on the season. 

Union returns to Schenectady to open ECAC play with a home-and-home series against Rensselaer on Friday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Messa Rink.