Jan. 28, 2006

Box Score

Fairfield, Conn. - The Sacred Heart Pioneers scored twice within a two-minute span midway in the first period to erase a 1-0 deficit and defeat Mercyhurst 2-1 Saturday night at the Milford Ice Pavilion. SHU improved to 16-9-1 overall and to 13-6-1 in Atlantic Hockey while the Lakers, clinging to first place in Atlantic Hockey (AH) by a point, dropped to 15-10-0 and 14-6-0 respectively.

Both Sacred Heart and Holy Cross remain tied for second place in the conference with 27 points, one behind Mercyhurst. The Crusaders, however, have two games in hand on both the Lakers and Pioneers.

The story of the game was SHU junior goaltender Jason Smith. Smith, who made 25 saves in a 4-1 win Friday, made 54 stops Saturday to improve his record to 14-8-1 overall and to 12-6-1 in AH.

Sophomore forward Ben Cottreau gave Mercyhurst the early lead with his 10th of the year at 8:03 of the first. Senior forward Dave Borrelli and junior defenseman Jamie Hunt assisted. But the lead proved to be short-lived. Sacred Heart tied the game at 9:59 on a goal by junior forward Pierre-Luc O'Brien and got the eventual game-winner less than two minutes later on a power play lamplighter from senior forward Rocco Molinaro. Both goals came against Mercyhurst junior goaltender Mike Ella, who started for the first time in the last seven games.

The Lakers fired 13 shots in the first period against Smith, a whopping 23 in the second, and 19 more in the third but, despite 10 power play chances, could not get the equalizer.

Ella was pulled for an extra attacker in the last minute, but Smith preserved the one goal lead.

Sacred Heart won the regular season series 3-1 from Mercyhurst and is now tied with the Lakers 10-10-2 all-time.

Mercyhurst will return to the Ice Center Tuesday night for an exhibition game against the USA National Development Under-18 team. Opening face-off is set for 7:00pm. The Lakers will then play an independent game Sunday against RIT at 3:00pm. The Tigers will join Atlantic Hockey next season.