Feb. 1, 2008

Stats

Worcester, Mass. - Mercyhurst erupted for four second-period goals, to erase a 2-1 deficit, and went on from there to defeat Holy Cross 6-3 Friday night. The Lakers improved to 8-14-5 overall and, more importantly, to 8-6-5 in the tightly-packed Atlantic Hockey Association. The Crusaders, who went 1-0-1 in Erie in late October, dropped to 8-11-6 and 7-9-3 respectively.

The Crusaders scored the first two goals of the game as both freshman Everett Sheen and sophomore Rob Forshner beat Mercyhurst junior Matt Lundin at 5:47 and 10:33 respectively of the first period. Sheen's team-leading 13th goal came just after the conclusion of a Holy Cross power play while Forshner's marker, his second of the season, came with the Crusaders down a man. Mercyhurst got back in the game when freshman Steve Cameron cashed his seventh of the year at 15:35. Cameron one-timed a pass from freshman Scott Pitt that eluded Holy Cross freshman netminder Adam Roy. The Lakers outshot the Crusaders 12-6 in the first twenty minutes.

It was all Mercyhurst in the middle period as the team equaled its highest one-period output all season. (The Lakers scored four times in the third period at RIT November 16 in a come-from-behind 6-3 win.) Mercyhurst scored three goals in just over four minutes to take control of the game. Sophomore winger Cody Collins banged home his second of the year, with help from Nick Vandenbeld and Kerry Bowman, at 9:45. Collins' only other lamplighter came January 4 in a 3-2 loss to Michigan Tech at the Ice Center. Freshman Mike Gurtler put Mercyhurst ahead at 10:50 with his 6th of the season. Gurtler was helped by Bobby Phillips and Neil Graham. Sophomore Chris Risi extended the lead to 4-2 at 14:00 with his second of the year from Gurtler and Graham. Risi, without a goal in his first 16 games this season, has scored two goals in his last three contests. Sophomore Matt Fennell finished second period scoring with a power play goal at 17:14. Fennell's 5th of the season was assisted by Brandon Coccimiglio and Jeff Terminesi. Mercyhurst outshot Holy Cross 17-6 in the middle period.

Each team scored in the third. Holy Cross defenseman Matt Celin scored his first goal of the season at 6:37 while Cameron finished Holy Cross with his second of the game (the first two-goal game of his career) and 8th of the season, with Mercyhurst up a man, at 18:43. Cameron was helped by both Pitt and Terminesi. Cameron's lamplighter came against sophomore Ian Dams, who replaced Roy at the start of the third period.

Mercyhurst outshot Holy Cross 37-27 and finished 2 of 5 on the power play. The Lakers took only two minor penalties in the game as the Crusaders finished 0 for 2.

Mercyhurst got production from all four lines, led by the trio of Gurtler, Risi, and Graham who finished with a combined two goals and three assists. A dozen players, all told, factored in the scoring.

The Lakers improved to 1-1-3 on their six-game conference road trip and increased their lead in the all-time series to 17-9-4. Lundin improved his record to 6-7-4 while Roy saw his record drop to 6-8-3.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series tomorrow night at 7:05.