Complete Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Junior forward Paul Chiasson scored just his second goal of the season, with 5:04 remaining in the third period, helping the Mercyhurst men's hockey team play to a 3-3 overtime tie against the Black Knights of Army on Saturday night. With the draw, the Lakers took three of a possible four points against Army over the weekend. Mercyhurst stays at .500 overall with a 7-7-2 record, but a 6-1-2 mark in conference play. Meanwhile, the Black Knights have now played to six ties this season, as they are 1-7-6 on the year and 1-5-4 against Atlantic Hockey foes.

The Lakers' other tie this season came against Bentley at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on November 18, when Mercyhurst played to its second-ever scoreless tie. In that game, senior goaltender Max Strang stopped 48 shots, including eight in overtime.

To earn the stalemate on Saturday, the Lakers had to come from behind on two separate occasions. Army jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period and then led again early in the third period after Mercyhurst had tied the game in the second.

The Black Knights got on the scoreboard first on a goal at the 4:35 mark of the opening period by Mike Henderson during a delayed penalty against the Lakers. Henderson picked up his third goal of the season for Army with Mac Lalor and Jon Bobb registering the assists. The Army lead grew to 2-0 at the 16:05 mark of the first when Mike Hull beat Strang for his fourth goal of the year. Lalor and Marcel Alvarez had the assists. Army outshot Mercyhurst in the opening twenty minutes 15-11.

Mercyhurst would respond with a pair of power play goals in the second period, both off the stick of freshman Chris Bodo. In the process, Bodo became just the second player all season for the Lakers to register more than one goal in a game. Freshman Nardo Nagtzaam had two goals in a 5-4 win at then-#19 Cornell on October 29.

Bodo got his first goal of the game at the 6:01 mark of the second period with the assists coming from freshman Tyler Shiplo and sophomore Nick Jones. Bodo then scored with 45 seconds left in the middle stanza to tie the game at 2-2 heading to the third period. Shiplo and Jones again assisted on Bodo's team-leading sixth goal of the season. The Lakers held a slight 12-10 shot advantage in the second period.

Army would recapture the lead 6:13 into the third period on a power play tally by Marcel Alvarez with Hull and Maurice Alvarez assisting on the marker. But, Chiasson, who was second on the team with 17 goals a year ago, notched just his second of the 2011-12 campaign at the 14:56 mark, knotting the game at 3-3. Freshman Matthew Zay picked up the lone assist. The Lakers held a 13-9 shot margin in the final period.

Neither team could score in the final five minutes of the third period or in the five-minute overtime session. Strang stopped four shots to close out the third period and then stopped two more shots in overtime to secure the draw. Both Strang and Army netminder Rob Tadazak stopped 33 opposing shots, as the shot total was also deadlocked at 36-36 for the contest.

Strang is 7-7-2 overall on the season, with a 2.90 goals against average and a .919 save percentage. His numbers are sparkling, however, against conference opponents. Saturday marked just the second time in nine conference games that he has allowed three goals. He is 6-1-2 in Atlantic Hockey action, with a 1.63 goals against average, and a .957 save percentage (337-of-352), which leads Atlantic Hockey.

Mercyhurst converted 2-of-6 power play opportunities, while the Black Knights went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

The Lakers will be back on the road on Friday, December 9, as they travel to Buffalo to take on long-time rival Canisius. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Mercyhurst will then return to the Ice Center on Saturday, December 10 for a 7:05 p.m. faceoff against the Purple Eagles of Niagara.

Saturday's game will be the First Annual "Teddy Bear Toss." Bring a teddy bear for free admission and show your support by throwing the toy on the ice after the first goal! All toys and proceeds will be donated to Toys for Tots.