Dec. 1, 2007

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Senior forward Kerry Bowman helped Rick Gotkin record his 350th career win with a pair of goals as Mercyhurst snapped a four-game winless streak with a 5-2 conference win over visiting Canisius Saturday night. The Lakers improved to 3-11-2 overall and to 3-5-2 in the topsy-turvy Atlantic Hockey Association. Canisius, which blanked the Lakers 4-0 Friday in Buffalo, dropped to 3-10-2 and 3-6-1 respectively.

Freshman forward Dan Bremner's first collegiate goal gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead after a period. Bremner's lamplighter was assisted by Cody Collins and Matt Pierce. The Lakers had a slight 9-8 advantage in first period shots.

Bowman upped the margin to 3-0 with back-to-back markers eight minutes apart in the second period. His first goal of the season, even strength, was assisted by Chris Risi and Jamie Coghlan at 3:28. Bowman's second score. the eventual game-winner, came shorthanded at 11:19, with help from Bobby Phillips and Brett Robinson. Canisius got on the board with less than a minute left in the period when Jason Weeks scored on the Golden Griffins' sixth power play chance of the game. Despite playing shorthanded for a good portion of the middle period, the Lakers had a 13-7 advantage in shots.

Freshman Mike Gurtler restored the three-goal lead with his second goal of the year at 7:46 of the third with help from Steve Cameron and Cullen Eddy. Things got interesting two minutes later when Mercyhurst was assessed a five-minute major. But the Lakers kept the Griffs off the board during the manpower shortage and even withstood a 6-on-4 for nearly a minute when Canisius pulled its goaltender. But the Griffs scored just 14 seconds after the panalty expired when team captain Greg Brown notched his first of the year. Mercyhurst defenseman Kirk Medernach put the exclamation point on the contest with his second goal in his last three games - and first career shorthanded marker - at 17:02. Canisius pulled its goaltender again during the power play, but Medernach blasted the puck nearly 140 feet into an open net for the clincher.

Mercyhurst outshot Canisius 36-28 and, although blanked in five power play chances, scored twice shorthanded. Canisius was 1 for 8 with the man advantage.

For Bowman, it was his second career two-goal game. His only other occurred at American International College January 15, 2005, when he also tallied the game-winner in a 6-3 verdict. The shorthanded strike was also the second of his career and first since his sophomore season.

Mercyhurst hadn't scored shorthanded twice in a game since March 11, 2006, when it turned the trick against Canisius in a 7-2 win at the Ice Center in the conference quarterfinals. The Lakers have now scored four shorthanded goals this season. They had but two in all of 2006-07.

Junior Matt Lundin improved his record to 2-5-1 and recorded his first win at home. Canisius netminder Andrew Loewen, who recorded Friday's shutout, suffered the loss.

Mercyhurst won't play again until December 14 and 15 when it closes the 2007 portion of the schedule with a pair of home games against American International College. Both conference games are set to start at 7:05.