ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College men's hockey team saw another rally fall short as the RIT Tigers held on for a 2-1 victory in front of a packed house at the Mercyhurst Ice Center Friday evening.

For the third-straight game, the Lakers were forced to overcome a one-goal deficit late in the third period. With junior Ryan Zapolski pulled for an extra skater, the Lakers looked to tie the game in the final seconds when junior Jeff Terminesi sent a shot through traffic and hit RIT netminder Jared DiMichiel square in the chest. As the rebound landed in the paint with players all around, defenseman Chris Haltigan swooped in and sent the puck up along the boards as the horn sounded, sealing the Tigers' fifth-straight win.

The Lakers, who fall to 2-8-1 on the season and 2-4-1 in Atlantic Hockey play, took an early lead when senior Cody Collins sent a backhander to the near post on the power play just 3:20 into the first period.

RIT muscled back though, as Alan Mazur found the back of the net twice on the power play. Mazur added his first later in the period before netting the eventual game-winner with 2:36 remaining in the second.

Both teams played an up-tempo style of hockey that kept the goaltenders on their heels. DiMichiel recorded the win with 26 saves, including 12 in the third period, while Zapolski made 24 stops as he fell to 2-7-1 on the season.

Mercyhurst outshot RIT 27-26 and converted 1-for-5 on the power play. The Tigers finished 2-for-3 with the extra skater.

Both teams close out the two-game series on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:05 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.