Rochester, N.Y. – The Mercyhurst College men's hockey team saw its seven-game unbeaten streak come to an end Friday evening, as Atlantic Hockey foe RIT pinned a 6-2 setback on the Lakers at the Frank Ritter Arena in Rochester, N.Y.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 7-9-1 on the season and 5-3-1 in AHA action. RIT improves to the same record, but takes over second place in the league standings with a mark of 6-4-1.

Sophomore Mike Gurtler scored his fifth goal of the season while freshman Phil Ginand tickled the twine with his sixth. Sophomore Ryan Zapolski suffered just his first loss of the year with 33 saves in net.

RIT accounted for the only goal of the first period, scoring on a short-handed chance courtesy of Brent Alexin at the 13:53 mark.

The Tigers stretched the lead to 4-0 in the second with two even-strength tallies and another short-handed score. Taylor McReynolds and Tyler Brenner connected 46 seconds apart before Jesse Newman struck at 13:49.

Mercyhurst caught fire with back-to-back scores in the final six minutes of the frame. Gurtler made the score 4-1 with a 5-on-5 lamp-lighter followed by an extra-man goal from Ginand less than three minutes later to take a 4-2 deficit into the third.

RIT capped off the game with two markers in the finale, scoring on a power-play at 4:23 while closing out the contest at 18:38.

Both teams reeled off 39 shots and converted once with the extra-man. RIT was 1-for-3 while the Lakers were 1-for-7.

Mercyhurst and RIT return to action on Saturday, Dec. 13 for game two of the series. Face-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Frank Ritter Arena.