SUDBURY, Ont. – The UOIT men's hockey team has lost their first game of the regular season.
 
In a rare morning start, the Ridgebacks fell 4-1 to the Laurentian Voyageurs in Sudbury on Tuesday in front of a capacity crowd Countryside Arena.
 
After a goal-less first period, Blake Luscombe opened the scoring 4:58 into the second period for Laurentian. Before the end of 40 minutes of play Nick Esposto's third goal of the season made it 2-0 for the Voyageurs.
 
In the third Jack Patterson (Bedford, N.S.) cut the Voyageurs lead in half, scoring his first OUA goal at the 3:49 mark, with assists to Nate Mitton (Kitchener, Ont.) and Mike Robinson (Stouffville, Ont.).
 
Unfortunately the comeback wasn't meant to be as Darcy Haines all but iced the game with Laurentian's third goal with 6:24 to go in the period. Bradley MacDonald's empty-net goal officially put the game out of reach with 1:18 to play as Laurentian handed the Ridgebacks their first conference loss this year.
 
Tyson Teichmann (Belleville, Ont.) made 26 saves in his first OUA loss, while Charlie Millen made 27 saves in his second victory of the season.
 
The Ridgebacks busy week will continue at home with the Laurier Golden Hawks in town on Friday night for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. Saturday they will host the Waterloo Warriors at 3:30 p.m.
 
Even with Tuesday's loss, when the U Sports national rankings were released the Ridgebacks held at fifth in the nation for the second straight week.
 
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 7-3-2
Conference Record: 5-1-0
 
Next game: Friday, Oct. 28 vs. Laurier Golden Hawks (7:30 p.m. – Campus Ice Centre)