ERIE, Pa. – Junior Scott Pitt scored his seventh goal of the season as the Mercyhurst College men's hockey team was defeated by Canisius, 5-1, in the first game of the 2010 Atlantic Hockey Association Quarterfinals Friday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers fall to 15-19-3 overall and 0-1 in the best-of-three series.

Pitt broke up Canisius' shutout late in the third period when he took a pass from junior Jeff Terminesi at the blueline and rifled it past goaltender Dan Morrison, making it a 4-1 game with 5:26 remaining. Senior Matt Fennell earned the second assist on the extra-attacker play.

Mercyhurst outshot Canisius 42-26, but was limited to the lone goal as Morrison recorded 41 saves to stifle the Lakers for the second straight game. He stopped 37 shots in their last meeting, a 4-2 decision on Feb. 13.

The Golden Griffins staked a 2-0 lead on goals by Torrey Lindsay and Preston Shuppe just 32 seconds apart in the first period before expanding it to 3-0 on a power-play marker courtesy of Josh Heidinger at 6:40 of the second.

Carl Hudson made it a 4-0 game when he struck on a 5-3 power play early in the third, while Heidinger stretched the score to 5-1 with an empty-net goal at 16:05.

Canisius finished the game 2-for-5 on the power play. Mercyhurst converted 1-for-10 with the extra man.

Junior Ryan Zapolski allowed four goals and turned aside 21 shots through 57:22 worth of action. He now stands at 15-16-3 on the season.

Mercyhurst and Canisius meet again on Saturday, Mar. 13 for game two of the series at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.