ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst College men's hockey team overcame a late deficit to defeat Atlantic Hockey Association foe Holy Cross, 3-2, in overtime Saturday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Sophomore Paul Chiasson scored two goals during regulation and classmate Grant Blakey provided the knockout punch in overtime, lifting the Lakers (10-11-2, 8-8-0 AHA) to their third straight victory and third series sweep of the season.

After falling behind, 2-1, on Luke Miller's short-handed goal to start the third period, the Lakers converted their next power-play opportunity to wipe the slate clean and force bonus time.

Chiasson made it a 2-2 game on a one-on-one play with goaltender Adam Roy when senior Scott Pitt's shot bounced off the netminder's pads and right to him on the doorstep. He took the puck, made a quick move and deposited it between Roy and the goal post with 3:12 to play.

Blakey then ended it with 2:36 to play in overtime on a shot from the right side of the cage to finish an end-to-end rush he started deep in Mercyhurst territory. Seniors Mike Gurtler and Steven Cameron earned the assists on the goal, with Gurtler taking the original feed from Blakey in the neutral zone and Cameron relaying it to him from behind the net.

Both teams skated up and down the ice for most of the game. After playing to a scoreless tie in the first period, Holy Cross and Mercyhurst exchanged goals in the second period, beginning with Matt Celin's first of the season to give the Crusaders a 1-0 lead at 11:56.

Chiasson tied it up shortly after, scoring on a cross-crease feed from Pitt into a wide-open net at 13:09. Freshman Taylor Holstrom earned the secondary assist on the play.

Holy Cross outshot the Lakers for the game, 35-34. Senior Ryan Zapolski earned his second straight win by stopping 33 shots, including 14 in the third period. He also helped kill off all eight Crusader power plays. MC finished 1-for-5 with the man-advantage.

Mercyhurst returns to action next weekend when it takes on Bentley on Friday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 22 in Watertown, Mass. Both games are slated for 7:05 p.m. starts.