MILFORD, Conn. – Mercyhurst and Sacred Heart took a 3-3 tie into the third period Friday, Jan. 15, before the home-standing Pioneers reeled off three unanswered tallies for a 6-3 AHA men's hockey victory at the Milford Ice Pavilion.

The Lakers, 11-12-2, 11-6-2 in conference action, suffered their first conference loss since Nov. 14, snapping a 10-game stretch without losing to an AHA opponent. Sacred Heart extended its unbeaten streak to six games with the win, and the Pioneers are now 8-9-3, 6-6-2 in AHA play. 

The Pioneers staged two three-goal rallies Friday, the second of which provided the winning margin.

With the game tied at three goals apiece in the third period, Sacred Heart gained the advantage just 1:13 into the final frame, when Evan Mladenoff scored what proved to be the game-winner. The Pioneers out-shot Mercyhurst 12-9 during the third period, and 40-28 for the game, adding an insurance tally at 15:02 of the third before sealing the victory with a late empty-net goal.

Junior Ryan Zapolski made 34 saves in the defeat, while Steven Legatto stopped 26 shots for SHU.

The Lakers stormed out of the gate, with freshman Paul Chiasson scoring just 47 seconds into the contest. Chiasson's sixth goal of the campaign was assisted by junior Scott Pitt and senior Cullen Eddy. SHU's Patrick Knowlton found the back of the net with a shot on the power play at 14:29 of the first period, knotting the game at 1-1.

Sacred Heart added two power play markers 15 seconds apart during the first minute of the second period, connecting for a 5-on-3 goal and a subsequent marker with a man advantage, taking a 3-1 lead.

While killing a five-minute major, junior Mike Gurtler notched his NCAA-leading fourth shorthanded goal to slice the deficit to one goal at 3-2 at 1:55 of the second session. His seventh goal of the season was assisted by junior Dan Bremner.

Junior Brandon Coccimiglio added his team-high 14th goal of the campaign, assisted by Piit and Chiasson midway through the second period to tie the contest at 3-3.

Mercyhurst went 0-4 on the power play, with seven shots with the man advantage, while Sacred Heart converted three of its five opportunities on the power play, firing 15 shots with the extra man.

Friday night was Pitt's third straight two-assist outing, and the third consecutive game in which Chiasson and Coccimiglio recorded points. Chiasson has scored one goal in each of the last three games, with two two-point efforts during that span.

The Lakers and Pioneers conclude the weekend series Saturday, Jan. 16 at 7:05 p.m.