HOUGHTON, Mich. — Peter Rouleau scored twice and rang the post on a third scoring opportunity, but it wasn't enough for #13 Michigan Tech in a 5-2 loss to St. Cloud State tonight at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. The visiting Huskies tallied three power play goals to gain the Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory.

The score was 1-0 after 20 minutes. St. Cloud State opened scoring at 14:20 of the first period when Ryan Lasch tapped home an initial shot that sneaked past Nolan on the power play.

The visitors recorded two more goals on the man advantage within the first seven minutes of period two.

Rouleau put Tech on the board midway through the second frame on the power play just as a five-on-three had expired. The senior center took a pass from Geoff Kinrade inside the right faceoff dot and buried it high past the diving SCSU goaltender Jase Weslosky. Malcolm Gwilliam also picked up an assist on the play.

St. Cloud State answered less than three minutes later with an even strength goal. Rouleau rang the post during a four-on-four at the 16-minute mark of the second period, but the score remained 4-1 after 40 minutes.

The home crowd of 2,890 was energized in the third period as Tech fired 12 shots on net. Rouleau's second goal of the night came 7:36 into the period as he put home the rebound of a Jordan Baker shot. Tyler Shelast drew the second assist on the goal.

Tech generated some opportunities to get within striking distance before SCSU iced the game at 14:57 with a goal that was counted after a video review.

"It takes a full 60 minutes to get a win in this league, and we didn't come out of the gate the way we wanted to — especially at home," said Tech head coach Jamie Russell. "We threw a lot of shots on net in the third, and we'll try to build on that for tomorrow.

St. Cloud finished three-of-five on the power play, while the home Huskies converted one-of-five chances. Shots favored the visitors, 28-23. Weslosky gained the victory with 21 saves in net. Michigan Tech goalie Robbie Nolan was credited with 23 stops.

The teams will play the rematch tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. Tech, which now stands at 5-4-0 overall and 4-3-0 in the WCHA, remains atop the league standings.