MILWAUKEE - Junior Nick LaRue netted a hat trick as the MSOE hockey team scored seven unanswered goals on its way to an 8-2 victory over Northland Friday evening at the Kern Center.

The Raiders (5-4, 3-4 NCHA) won their fifth-straight game by overcoming the Lumberjacks (1-9-1, 1-6 NCHA) 1-0 lead after the first period.

Freshman Eric Tien added two goals and an assist for MSOE, while three player tallied three assists apiece in sophomore Gage Christianson and freshmen James Ring and Omar Mullan. Mullan added a goal of his own and extended his point-scoring streak to eight games.

Northland took advantage of a 5-on-3 power play to strike first, scoring the lone goal of the opening period 14:28 into the game. It was the lone score of the opening period, but the Raiders bounced back with a vengeance in the second period, lighting the lamp three times to take control of the game. They outshot NC 19-7 in the period and emerged with a 3-1 advantage.

Tien leveled the score at 8:14 of the period on a goal from close range. Then, just 53 seconds later, freshman Zach Simpson put MSOE ahead 2-1 with a slap shot from out near the blue line. Mullan capped the scoring in the period, taking a lofting outlet pass from sophomore Gage Christianson and beating the goalie on a breakaway.

The Raiders were just getting started, turning the game into the rout with a productive third period. They first took advantage of a five-minute major penalty to strike for two power play goals early in the period and extend its lead to 5-1. LaRue struck first at 4:54 and Tien netted his second of the game just 1:52 later.

Just after the penalty finished, freshman Jerad Tafoya scored on a back-handed rebound.

LaRue finished his hat trick with back-to-back goals for MSOE. He netted his second of the game just 33 seconds after Tafoya's goal. Then, after NC added a second power play goal, he lit the lamp again with just under five minutes remaining in the game.

MSOE held a decisive 38-17 shot advantage in the game. Junior Nick Kohn made 15 saves on the night to secure the victory.

These teams will wrap up the series Saturday. The puck drops at 2 p.m. at the Kern Center.