ERIE, Pa. – Junior Mike Gurtler became the seventh player in NCAA Division I history to score three short-handed goals in a single game Friday evening, as the Mercyhurst College men's hockey team pounded Holy Cross, 5-1, at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. With the win, the Lakers improve to 3-9-1 overall and 3-5-1 in Atlantic Hockey play.

Gurtler's short-handed hat trick was the first by a Division I player since Zach Harrison of North Dakota accomplished the feat against Minnesota State on Oct. 17, 2008, and the first by a Mercyhurst player in the Division I-era. Scott Burfoot scored three man-down goals in a game against Scranton on Jan. 24, 1992 when Mercyhurst was competing at the Division III level.

The only other Division I players to score three times on the penalty kill in a single game were George Awada of St. Cloud State, Jayson Greyerbiehl of Colgate, C.J. Young of Harvard, Greg Dreschel of Colgate and Norm Cherrey of Wisconsin.

Entering the game with one goal to his season-resume and no career hat tricks, Gurtler kicked off the start of a three-goal run in the first period, scoring on a breakaway after a Holy Cross turnover at the 10:30 mark. Junior Jeff Terminesi extended the lead to 2-0 with an even-strength score at 17:22, followed by another from Gurtler at 12:39 of the second.

Holy Cross broke up the run when Rob Forshner found the back of the net less than two minutes later at 14:16.

Mercyhurst finished off the game with a pair of goals in the third. Senior Matt Fennell pushed the lead to three with the game's only power-play score at 2:40, while Gurtler made it a four-goal advantage with his hat-trick completing marker at 6:19.

Junior Ryan Zapolski helped the Lakers snap a four-game losing streak and earn their first win at home with 24 saves. Holy Cross outshot the Lakers 25-20.

Both teams combined for 17 power-play opportunities, with Mercyhurst finishing at 1-for-8 and Holy Cross at 0-for-9.

Mercyhurst and Holy Cross meet again in the series finale on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 4:05 p.m.