March 4, 2006

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Sophomore Ben Cottreau's early third period power play goal snapped a 1-1 tie as Mercyhurst defeated Canisius 4-2 Saturday night in the regular season finale for both teams. The victory advanced the Lakers to second in Atlantic Hockey (AH), a point ahead of third place Sacred Heart, but a point behind first place Holy Cross. The Crusaders scored late to edge Bentley 3-2 Saturday while the Pioneers were beaten 4-3 by Connecticut. The Lakers finished the regular season 21-12-1 overall and 19-8-1 in AH and second place. The Golden Griffins, who lost all four games to the Lakers during the regular season by a combined five goals, ended up 10-22-2 and 8-18-2, seventh in the conference. What all that means is that Canisius will come to Erie next Saturday for a fifth meeting this season with the Lakers, this time with a trip to the conference semifinals on the line.

Mercyhurst scored first against freshman goalie Dan Giffin when junior forward Scott Champagne scored on the power play at 10:59 of the first. Champagne's 15th of the season was assisted by Ryan Toomey and Dave Borrelli.

The score stayed that way until late in the second when the Golden Griffins cashed a power play of their own. Forward Jayme Harrington's one-timer from the left circle beat freshman Tyler Small over the right shoulder. That set the stage for a four-goal final frame, three by Mercyhurst.

Cottreau put the Lakers ahead at 1:42 of the third, just 38 seconds after a Canisius penalty, and freshman Matt Pierce followed suit with his fourth of the season less than three minutes later. Junior defenseman Jamie Hunt helped on Cottreau's go-ahead marker while seniors Conrad Martin and Mike Pochatek set up Pierce's lamplighter.

But Canisius refused to go quietly and got back into the game at 9:05 of the third when junior Billy Irish-Baker scored, shorthanded, to draw the Golden Griffins to within one at 3-2. Mercyhurst sophomore forward Matt Warren finished Canisius and the scoring with an empty-net tally at 19:39. Champagne and Kerry Bowman were credited with assists.

Mercyhurst outshot Canisius 37-27, including a 15-7 advantage in the third. The Lakers finished 2 of 7 with the man advantage and Canisius 1 of 7. Small won both games against Canisius over the weekend and improved his record to 13-5-1. Giffin lost twice as his record dropped to 6-10-1.

The playoff meeting next weekend will be the first between the two western AH conference rivals since March 15, 2001, when the Lakers edged the Golden Griffins 4-3 in a MAAC semifinal game at UConn. The Lakers now lead the all-time series against the Golden Griffins 27-12-4.

Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinal Pairings
#8 AIC at #1 Holy Cross

#7 Canisius at #2 Mercyhurst

#6 Connecticut at #3 Sacred Heart

#5 Army at #4 Bentley

Semifinals and championship game the following weekend at Holy Cross regardless of next Saturday's outcomes.