ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's hockey team saw its three-game unbeaten streak come to an end on Saturday night, as the Niagara Purple Eagles skated to a 4-3 victory at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers dropped to 8-8-2 overall and 7-2-2 in Atlantic Hockey Association play, while the Purple Eagles improved to 5-5-6 overall and 4-2-5 in conference play.

Senior goaltender Max Strang was pulled for an extra attacker with 90 seconds to play in regulation. Just six seconds later, junior Paul Chiasson slid the puck through the legs of Niagara netminder Chris Noonan off of a centering feed from junior Grant Blakey. Freshman Nardo Nagtzaam had the other assist on Chiasson fourth goal of the season, and third in his last three games, cutting the Purple Eagle lead to 4-3. Just moments later, with Strang still pulled, Nagtzaam took a slapshot from just inside the left point that somehow got through traffic in front on the Niagara goal. However, Nagtzaam's shot rang off the far post, and the Lakers could not muster any other scoring chances, falling just short in their comeback bid.

Mercyhurst did not wait long on the first annual "Teddy Bear Toss," as senior defenseman Kevin Noble scored his third goal of the season on a blast from the point on a Laker power play. Freshmen Nagtzaam and Daniel Bahntge had the assists on the goal. Fans that brought in a teddy bear to the game got to throw the toy on the ice after the Lakers' first goal, with every toy ending up on the ice being donated to Toys For Tots.

Niagara responded with a goal at the 14:12 mark of the opening period when Marc Zanette tied the game at 1-1. Isaac Kohls and Sam Alfieri had the assists. But, just 1:08 later, freshman Zac Frischmon snapped a shot from in between the circles past Noonan, regaining the one-goal lead for the Lakers. It was Frischmon's first collegiate goal and was assisted by freshman Edward DeWald and senior Patrick Goebel. It was DeWald's first collegiate point.

The Purple Eagles, however, would not go quietly, as Scott Arnold buried a rebound past Strang at the 19:12 mark of the opening twenty minutes, knotting the game at 2-2 at the first intermission. Dan Baco and Patrick Divjak had the assists.

Niagara dominated the shot total in the first period, outshooting the Lakers 27-9.

Divjak gave Niagara its first lead of the game just 2:26 into the second period, capitalizing on a Purple Eagle power play. Alfieri and Arnold had the assists on the goal. Niagara outshot Mercyhurst again in the second, but by a much slimmer 13-12 margin.

The score remained 3-2 until the 14:41 mark of the third period, when Baco capitalized on a Laker turnover. Divjak stole the puck in the right wing corner and found a wide-open Baco stationed in front of the Laker net.

Mercyhurst dominated the shots in the third period as they tried to push the envelope to tie the game. The Lakers outshot Niagara 17-9 in the third period, with the Purple Eagles holding a 49-38 advantage in shots for the sixty minutes.

Both teams had one power play goal on the night, with Mercyhurst going 1-for-5 and Niagara going 1-for-8. Mercyhurst was whistled for 10 penalties for 28 minutes for the game, while the Purple Eagles had six minors for 12 minutes.

Strang took the loss, just his second in conference play, stopping 45 shots. Noonan picked up his second win of the season, stopping 36-of-38 Mercyhurst shots on goal.

The Lakers will now be off until a long bus trip to Huntsville, Alabama for a pair of non-conference games against the Chargers of Alabama-Huntsville on December 30 and 31. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.