Erie, Pa. - It was "sophomore" night at the Ice Center. Goaltender Ryan Zapolski recorded his first career shutout and forward Steve Cameron scored four successive goals, a Mercyhurst Division I record, as the Lakers completed the weekend sweep of Sacred Heart with a 7-0 win in an Atlantic Hockey Association contest. The Lakers improved to 9-12-2 overall and to 7-6-2 in the conference while the Pioneers dropped to 5-14-3 and 5-9-2 respectively.

Sophomore winger Mike Gurtler started the scoring with a late first period power play goal. The marker was assisted by junior Chris Risi and freshman Phil Ginand. Mercyhurst outshot Sacred Heart 12-10 in a fast-paced opening period.

The lead grew to 4-0 after forty minutes thanks to Gurtler's second power play tally of the game at 9:15 and Cameron's 12th (pp) and 13th scores of the year at 11:12 and 15:05. Risi and Ginand assisted on Gurtler's second lamplighter while sophomore forward Scott Pitt helped on both Cameron goals. Other middle period assists went to senior forwards Matt Pierce and Brett Robinson.

Cameron's onslaught continued with even strength goals at 1:22 and 10:08 of the finale while Pitt finished the scoring with his 10th of the season at 13:24. Pitt also added two helpers in the third to finish with
a team-leading five-point night.

Mercyhurst outshot Sacred Heart 39-21 and finished with three power play goals in seven attempts. The Pioneers were 0 for 5.

A night after stopping 30 of 31, Zapolski (7-2-2) turned aside all 21 SHU scoring attempts. Senior Stefan Drew (4-12-3) took the loss.

The Lakers will continue a lengthy 9-game homestand next weekend when Connecticut visits for 7:05 games Friday and Saturday nights.