Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst wanted two points Friday night, but had to settle for one. RIT rallied from a 3-1 third-period deficit as the Tigers and Lakers battled to a 3-3 overtime tie in an important Atlantic Hockey Association contest at the Ice Center. The Lakers, 11-16-6 overall and 11-8-6 in the conference, finished the night tied with Air Force for fourth place while RIT, 14-11-6 and 12-8-5, moved into a tie for second with Sacred Heart. Just three points separate the top five teams in Atlantic Hockey.

Junior forwards Brett Robinson (11:20) and Matt Pierce (16:14) gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead in the first period. Robinson's 6th of the year was assisted by Jeff Terminesi and Kerry Bowman while Pierce's 8th was helped by Steve Cameron. The Tigers clawed back into the contest late in the period with the first of three special teams' goals, this one a power play scored by defenseman Al Mazur at 19:37. RIT outshot Mercyhurst 13-12 in the first period.

The teams fired a combined 23 shots without damage in the middle period, 14 by the Tigers.

Bowman restored the Lakers' two-goal lead with his fourth of the year, from linemates Robinson and Ben Cottreau, at 5:23 of the third. But the Tigers closed the gap to one just three minutes later when winger Matt Smith connected while RIT was up a man. The Lakers had a chance to put the game away later in the final frame but, working with a man advantage, allowed RIT forward Darrell Draper to score shorthanded at 14:23. Both teams had chances in the final five minutes of regulation and the overtime, but Mercyhurst junior netminder Matt Lundin (9-9-5) and RIT sophomore Louis Menard (13-9-5) closed their respective doors.

RIT outshot Mercyhurst 48 to 37 but the Lakers had 6 of the 8 overtime shots. The Tigers were 2 of 3 with the man advantage while the Lakers were 0 for 2.

Mercfyhurst is tied with Air Force for fourth place with 28 points. Air Force defeated Canisius 3-0 in Buffalo Friday. RIT moved into a tie for second with Sacred Heart, which lost 3-1 at Holy Cross. Army remained in first with 31 points, despite a 2-1 loss at Bentley. The other conference game found UConn besting American International 4-2.

Mercyhurst and RIT will conclude their weekend series at the Ice Center Saturday night at 7:05.