ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst and Army battled to a 4-4 tie in a nationally-televised contest on CBS College Sports, played before a sellout crowd Friday, Feb. 19 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Grant Blakey netted two goals and Mike Gurtler contributed three points for the Lakers.

With the tie, the Lakers and Black Knights split the two available points. Mercyhurst is now 13-17-3, 13-9-3 in AHA play. Army is 10-15-6, 9-11-5 in the Atlantic Hockey Association.

The two teams came out with intensity during the first period, as Mercyhurst and Army combined for 42 hits during the opening 20 minutes. The Lakers struck first, as Blakey received a stretch pass from Gurtler, moved into the slot and fired a shot past Jay Clark for a 1-0 Mercyhurst lead at 4:34.

Army responded at 11:52, when Mike Santee knocked in a rebound off of a scramble in front, knotting the score at 1-1.

The Lakers took a 2-1 lead at 16:49 when Derek Elliott found Gurtler with a cross-crease pass. Gurtler buried the puck in the net, as his shot beat the goaltender to the near post.

Army outshot the Lakers 13 to 7 while also killing Mercyhurst's power play opportunity in the first period.

Mercyhurst and Army played a scoreless second period, despite numerous chances for the Lakers. The home team sent four shots off of the post and held a 12-9 edge in shots during the middle frame. Each team failed to score on two power play chances in the second period.

The Black Knights tied the score at 2-2 just 59 seconds into a fast-paced third period during which five goals were scored. Mike Hull split the defense before sneaking a shot past Laker goaltender Ryan Zapolski.

Mercyhurst answered with the next two goals, as Cody Collins converted a pass from Neil Graham into his sixth goal of the season at 2:54. Blakey added his second goal of the game and 10th of the season at 6:16, dangling the puck around the defense before tickling the twine for a 4-2 Laker lead.

Army bounced back with a power play goal, when Cody Omilusik knocked in a rebound at 7:52. Danny Colvin tied the game with a goal at 4-4 at 12:19. The goaltenders yielded no more goals throughout the remainder of the third period, and a thrilling overtime ended with the score at 4-4.

The line of Blakey, Elliott, and Gurtler figured in on three of the Lakers four goals, continuing its hot streak. Gurtler posted a goal and two assists for his third straight multiple-point game. Blakey netted two goals, extending his points-scoring streak to six games. Elliott posted two assists for the second time this season.

Zapolski made 39 stops in the tie, while Clark denied 27 shots, as Army outshot Mercyhurst 43-31.

Friday's game was the second tie between the two teams in the all-time series, with both deadlocks happening this season.

The Lakers and Black Knights conclude the weekend and season series Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Opening face-off is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.