Nov. 25, 2006

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst got a tying goal from junior defenseman Jamie Coghlan in the third period and 43 saves from sophomore Tyler Small as the Lakers and Holy Cross skated to a 3-3 overtime tie Saturday night. Mercyhurst concluded the weekend series with a 3-7-3 overall record and a 3-5-2 mark in Atlantic Hockey, The Crusaders left Erie with 7-6-1 and 6-4-1 marks respectively.

Coghlan's goal was his first of the season and third of his career. He missed all of last season with an injury and hadn't scored a goal since March of 2005 when he cashed a power play marker at the Ice Center in a 6-1 win over Sacred Heart.

Mercyhurst jumped to a 2-0 first period lead when junior forward Ryan Toomey and senior winger Scott Champagne collected goals less than four minutes apart. Champagne's came with the Lakers up a man. Holy Cross sophomore defenseman Marty Dams got the Crusaders within one when he scored his first goal of the season on a power play at 18:44 of the first.

Holy Cross tied the game at 11:31 of the second when senior forward Tanner Fogarty notched his first of the year with an unassisted score.

The Crusaders took the lead at 2:12 of the third when freshman Ryan Driscoll scored with the man advantage. But Coghlan got the Lakers even four minutes later and neither team was able to get the decisive marker after that.

Small was brilliant for the second straight night. He stopped 46 of 48 Holy Cross shots in a 3-2 win Friday and saved 43 more attampts Saturday. Holy Cross outshot Mercyhurst 46-22 and converted two of six power play chances. The Lakers finished one of five. The Lakers played down a man for the last two minutes of overtime, but Small and his teammates held the fort.

Mercyhurst won the season series against the Crusaders 2-1-1 and has a 16-8-3 advantage all-time. Mercyhurst has now played to an overtime draw in three of its last four games and has participated in five overtime games (0-2-3) this season.

Mercyhurst will take to the road next weekend when it visits American International Friday and Saturday. The Lakers return to the Ice Center December 8 and 9 to play one of two new teams in Atlantic Hockey this season, the Tigers of RIT.