COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. – The Mercyhurst College men's hockey team exploded for a season-high six goals in a 6-2 victory over Atlantic Hockey Association foe Air Force to capture its first win of the season and deliver head coach Rick Gotkin his 400th career victory at Mercyhurst Friday evening at Cadet Ice Arena. The Lakers improve to 1-4-1 overall and 1-2-0 in AHA play, while the Falcons fall to 1-5-0 on the season and 1-3-0 in conference play.

Gotkin, in his 23rd season at the helm of the Mercyhurst men's hockey program, moved his all-time record to 400-276-53 with the Lakers' seventh career win over the Falcons (7-6-2). He now becomes the ninth active Division I coach with 400 victories and the 36th coach in NCAA men's ice hockey history to reach 400 victories.

“It's a great feeling,” said Gotkin. “I've been the benefactor of some very talented teams over the 23 seasons I've been at Mercyhurst. Our team played great tonight. We got some great goaltending and our team really stepped up when they had to. We just need to build off of tonight and continue it down the road.”

Freshman Daniel O'Donoghue led the Lakers with a two-goal, one-assist performance. Freshmen Kyle Just and Nick Jones both dished out two assists, and senior Ryan Raven scored once and assisted on another. Senior Scott Pitt, sophomore Grant Blakey and freshman Taylor Holstrom each added a goal.

The Lakers continued their mastery over the Falcons at the Cadet Ice Arena (5-1-1) with a three-goal second period, after skating to a 1-1 tie in the first. O'Donoghue scored back-to-back goals at 12:26 and 19:00 to turn a 1-1 game in to a 3-1 advantage. Less than a minute later, Blakey found the back of the net to cap the three-goal outburst.

Mercyhurst outshot Air Force 14-7 in the second period after falling behind in attempts in the opening frame, 15-11. The Falcons did bounce back in the third with a 12-4 advantage, but senior Ryan Zapolski continued his stance in goal, turning aside 11 shots to finish the game with 32 stops and earn his first win of the season (1-1-0).

Stephen Caple suffered the loss in net for Air Force with 23 saves and six goals allowed, including consecutive goals to Pitt and Holstrom less than three minutes apart in the third.

Air Force outshot the Lakers 34-29 for the game and converted 1-for-4 on the power play. MC finished 0-for-2 with the extra skater.

Mercyhurst continues conference play next weekend when it hosts Army for a two-game series, beginning on Friday, Nov. 12 at 7:05 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.