Complete Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Freshman Ryan Misiak broke a 3-3 tie at the 3:43 mark of the third period, helping the Mercyhurst men's hockey team complete a non-conference sweep of Alabama-Huntsville 4-3 on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers, who defeated the Chargers 5-1 on Friday night, improved to 10-8-2 on the season. UAH dropped to 1-21-1.

Freshman Chris Bodo led the Laker offense with a goal and two assists, while Misiak finished the day with a goal and an assist, enabling freshman netminder Jimmy Sarjeant earn the victory in his first collegiate start. Sarjeant allowed two goals on the first three shots he faced, but then settled down and stopped 22 of the next 23 Charger shots.

The two teams combined for five of the game's seven goals in the opening twenty minutes. Senior Derek Elliott got the scoring started at the 4:07 mark with his team-leading and career-high ninth goal of the season. Bodo and Misiak had the assists.

Alabama-Huntsville then scored the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead. Craig Pierce scored his third goal of the year just 44 seconds after Elliott got the Lakers on the board. Alex Allan followed with his first goal of the year at 7:46, giving the Chargers their first-lead of the two-game series.

Mercyhurst responded with the next two goals to close out the opening period with a 3-2 advantage. Bodo scored his seventh goal of the season, unassisted, just 21 seconds after the Chargers captured the lead. Then, fellow freshman Daniel Bahntge scored his fourth of the season at the 15:42 mark, with help from freshman Nardo Nagtzaam.

Both goaltenders, Sarjeant for Mercyhurst and John Griggs for Alabama-Huntsville, got off to slow starts, with Mercyhurst holding an 8-6 lead in shots after 20 minutes.

The Chargers would tie the game with the only goal of the second period, when Graeme Strukoff scored his first goal of the year at the 8:34 mark. Alabama-Huntsville held a 12-6 shot advantage in the second period.

Misiak gave the Lakers the lead with the eventual game-winner early in the third. It was the freshman's third goal of the season, and second of the weekend series. Bodo and junior defenseman Charlie Carkin had the helpers on the goal. The Lakers were given three consecutive power plays in the third, but could not extend the lead. Then, the Chargers got a power play with 3:27 left in regulation, but Sarjeant and the Lakers kept UAH off the scoreboard.

Mercyhurst, who came into the contest with one of the nation's best power plays, went 0-for-8 with the skater advantage. The Chargers, meanwhile, went 0-for-6 on Saturday, and 0-for-12 for the weekend.

Sarjeant stopped 23-of-26 to earn his first collegiate victory. Griggs stopped 18-of-22 Mercyhurst shots to drop to 0-4 on the season.

The Lakers (10-8-2, 7-2-2 AHA) will return home, and return to Atlantic Hockey action, next Friday and Saturday, January 6 and 7, for a pair of games against the Pioneers of Sacred Heart. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both nights from the Mercyhurst Ice Center.