Feb. 9, 2008

Stats

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's hockey team (10-15-5 overall, 10-7-5 AHA) lost to visiting Air Force (14-11-5, 11-9-4) by a score of 7-0 Saturday evening at the MIC.

Mercyhurst fell behind by scores of 2-0 after the first period and only 3-0 after two, but the Falcons exploded for four goals - three on the power play - in the third period to pull ahead.

Two Falcons had three-point evenings: Josh Frider (2g, 1a) and Matt Fairchild (1g, 2a). Air Force goaltender Andrew Volkening stopped all 25 shots for his first shutout. Mercyhurst netminder Matt Lundin stopped 29 shots in the losing effort.

There were many penalties in the contest, but Air Force fared much better on the power play, going 4-for-10, while Mercyhurst was blanked in 10 chances.

Air Force outshot the Lakers, 36-25.

It was the first shutout loss for Mercyhurst this season since a 4-0 loss at Canisius on Nov. 30. The seven-goal deficit was the most since a 10-3 loss at Holy Cross on Nov. 11, 2005.

Mercyhurst will try to regroup as the Lakers travel to Sacred Heart next weekend, Feb. 15-16 at 7:05 p.m. both nights. Sacred Heart is currently tied for first in AHA standings with Army, while Mercyhurst is fifth. But only two point separate first from fifth place.