April 2, 2006

Stats

Stony Brook, N.Y. - #6 Dowling snapped a 10-10 tie with a pair of goals less than a minute apart late in the game and then held on to edge #5 Mercyhurst 12-11 in the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) debut for the Lakers. Dowling remained unbeaten at 6-0 overall as it won its conference opener. The Lakers dropped to 6-2 and 0-1 respectively.

Mercyhurst got first-quarter goals from Jim Mullaley and Mike Bartlett to take a 2-1 lead after 15 minutes. But the Golden Lions used a 5-2 advantage in the second period to take a 6-4 lead at intermission. The final Dowling goal of the half came with no time on the clock. The Lakers owned a slight 14-13 advantage in shots over the first thirty minutes.

Mercyhurst tied the game at 6-6 on goals by Bryon Lindner and David Osier in the first six minutes of the third quarter, but Dowling outscored Mercyhurst 3-1 the rest of the period, getting its second goal of the game and #9 overall, with no time showing again on the clock at the end of the quarter.

The Golden Lions stretched their lead to 10-7 early in the fourth, but Mercyhurst got two goals from Linder and another from Osier to forge the contest's final stalemate at 10-10.

Dylan Evans put Dowling ahead 11-10 with 2:16 to play and teammate Nick Cotter gave the Golden Lions a two-goal advantage with 1:25 to play. Mercyhurst's Adam Mulherin kept the fans on the edge of their seats when he scored with 1:04 left, but the Lakers couldn't get the equalizer in the final 64 seconds.

Mercyhurst had a slight, 32-31, advantage in shots and was 2 of 5 with the extra man. Dowling was 2 for 2.

Osier and Lindner had three goals apiece for the Lakers while Chris Dupignac and Ryan Campbell had trifectas for the Golden Lions. Nick Tracey was credited with ten saves for Dowling while Mike Bringley made seven for the Lakers.

The Lakers will resume conference play next Saturday when #4 Adelphi visits Tullio Field for a 1:00pm game.