Nov. 18, 2006

Final Stats

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst remained winless in its last five games Saturday night as the Lakers and Canisius played to a 3-3 overtime tie in an Atlantic Hockey Association contest at the Ice Center. The Lakers ended weekend play with a 2-7-1 mark overall and a 2-5-1 conference slate while the Griffs, 3-1 winners Friday in Buffalo, left Erie with 3-9-1 and 3-5-1 records.

With the Griffs down a man in the first period, freshman winger Cody Collins notched his first collegiate goal when he slid one past Canisius netminder Andrew Loewen at 8:33. The score remained that way until 66 seconds remained in the period when Canisius freshman defenseman Chris Forsman got the equalizer at the expense of Mercyhurst sophomore goalie Tyler Small. Canisius outshot Mercyhurst 15-8 in the period.

The Lakers appeared to take control of the game with a two-goal second period. Sophomore forward Brett Robinson, who had the Lakers' lone goal Friday, shorthanded, collected Mercyhurst's second power play marker of the contest at 5:48. Sophomore winger Mike Floyd's second goal of the season, at 19:28, gave Mercyhurst a two-goal advantage and all the momentum heading into the third. The Lakers had a slight 10-8 advantage in shots in the middle frame.

But the Griffs, to their credit, refused to follow the script. Senior forward Chris Angelo drew Canisius within one midway thru the final period when he notched his third goal of the season on a delayed penalty. The Golden Griffins then tied the game with just 45 seconds left when Loewen left for an extra attacker and junior Greg Brown slid one past Small for the equalizer.

Canisius outshot Mercyhurst 11-8 in the third and had all four shots in the five-minute extra session.

Small made 35 saves while Loewen was credited with 24 stops. The Lakers were 2 of 6 with the extra man while the Griffs finished 0 for 5.

Despite the 0-1-1 weekend against their long-time rival, the Lakers still lead the all-time series 28-13-5. The teams will meet two more times in the regular season.

The Lakers will try to right the ship Tuesday when Yale visits for a 7:00pm non-conference game. Yale defeated Mercyhurst 6-3 last season in Connecticut. Mercyhurst will conclude its four-game homestand next Friday and Saturday when defending conference champion Holy Cross visits. The two teams split a pair of games at Holy Cross last month.