ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst men's hockey team dropped a tough 4-2 decision to visiting Bentley Friday, Jan. 22 in front of 612 fans at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Falcons scored three unanswered goals in the third period, becoming the first team to beat Mercyhurst at the MIC since Nov. 14.

Bentley's Ben Hartung tallied the game-winner and sealed the victory with an empty net goal. Derek Elliott gave the Lakers their last lead of the game with his sixth goal of the season during the second period.

Mercyhurst held a 2-1 lead after two periods, but failed to score on a carry-over power play from the end of the second. Both teams went 0-6 with the man advantage on the evening, including an extended 5-on-3 for the Lakers in the first period. The Falcons knotted the game at two goals apiece at 7:48 when Justin Kemmerer guided home a cross-crease pass from Jeremy Robert.

The Falcons kept the pressure on, but Ryan Zapolski made a big blocker save to thwart a Bentley shot on a breakaway. With five minutes remaining in the game, Bentley attacked the net, with a shot rebounding out into the slot. Hartung unleashed a wrist shot that beat Zapolski high to the glove side for a 3-2 Falcon lead.  Despite late pressure, the Lakers were unable to find the equalizer, and Hartung's empty-net tally in the final seconds provided the final two-goal margin.

Bentley outshot Mercyhurst 35-25, including a decided 16-9 advantage during the final period. The Lakers blocked 15 shots, compared to seven for the Falcons.

Zapolski made 31 saves in the loss, while Bentley's Joe Calvi earned the win with 23 stops.

Friday's defeat was the Lakers' first setback at home since a 3-2 loss Nov. 14. Mercyhurst had won its last six home games.

Following a scoreless first period, Neil Graham got the Lakers on the board, redirecting a Cody Collins pass between the legs of the goaltender for his fifth goal of the season at 4:26.

The Falcons responded near the midway point of the second session, when Trent Bonnett found  Jamie Nudy between the defenseman, springing the forward for a breakaway, on which Nudy tucked a shot low to the near post, tying the game at 1-1.

The game remained tied for just over one minute, as Derek Elliott banked a shot in off of Calvi's pads from below the goalline at 11:44 of the second period, for his sixth tally of 2009-10.

The Lakers and Falcons conclude their weekend series Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center, with the opening faceoff scheduled for 7:05 p.m.