Complete Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Mercyhurst men's hockey team scored three goals in each of the second and third periods, and sophomore Jordan Tibbett earned his first collegiate victory, as the Lakers cruised to a 7-2 victory on Saturday night at American International College to salvage a weekend split. The Lakers improved to 13-9-2 overall and 10-3-2 in Atlantic Hockey Association play, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 4-16-2 overall and 3-10-2 in conference play.

The Lakers snapped a three-losing streak against AIC and assured themselves of being in sole possession of first place in the conference standings for another weekend. The seven goals scored was the second-highest offensvie output of the season for Mercyhurst. The Lakers scored nine goals in a 9-1 win against Sacred Heart on January 6.

Mercyhurst got a goal and two assists from freshman Nardo Nagtzaam and senior Kevin Noble and got two goals each from sophomore Trent Frey and junior Paul Chiasson. Senior defenseman Patrick Goebel also had a mutli-point night, finishing with a goal and an assist.

Noble gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead with the only goal of the first period, a power play tally at the 6:19 mark for his fourth goal of the season, establishing a new career-high for the senior from Sparwood, British Columbia. Nagtzaam had the assist. AIC outshot the Mercyhurst 13-12 in the first period, despite the Lakers holding a 1-0 lead after the opening period.

Mercyhurst's offense then blew the game open in the second period, scoring three times against American International starter Ben Meisner. Goebel gave the Lakers a 2-0 lead with his second goal of the season, and second of the weekend, at the 10:22 mark. Nagtzaam and sophomore Daniel O'Donoghue had the assists. Three minutes later, Frey scored his second goal of the season, eventually prove to be the game-winner, putting Mercyhurst in front 3-0. Goebel and freshman Matthew Zay had the helpers. Then, Chiasson would cap off the second period scoring at the 17:55 mark with his eighth goal of the year. Senior Derek Elliott had the lone assist as Mercyhurst outshot the Yellow Jackets 21-6 in the middle period.

The Lakers would put the game out of reach with three goals in the first 3:52 of the third period to take a 7-0 lead. Frey scored his second goal of the game, and third of the season, at the 2:56 with assists going to sophomore Nick Jones and freshman Zac Frischmon. Then, just 25 seconds later, Nagtzaam scored his ninth of the year from Noble and freshman Daniel Bahntge, putting the Lakers ahead 6-0. Chiasson would end Mercyhurst's scoring with his second of the night, and ninth of the season, just 31 seconds later. Noble and freshman Chris Bodo had the helpers.

American International would get on the board, ruining sophomore Jordan Tibbett's bid at his first career shutout. Blake Peake scored with just 3:13 left in regulation, putting the Yellow Jackets on the scoreboard. Then, with 59 seconds left in the contest, Nick Sandor closed out the scoring for AIC with his second goal of the season.

Tibbett, making his first start since October 19, 2010, narrowly missed out on his first career shutout, but stopped 27-of-29 AIC shots to earn his first collegiate victory. Tibbett went 0-3-1 as a freshman a year ago. Meisener and Ryan Kerpan combined to stop 44 of Mercyhurst's 51 shots on the night. The 51 shots on goal was a season high for the Lakers.

The Lakers finished 1-for-5 on the power play while the Yellow Jackets were 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

Mercyhurst will be on the road next weekend, traveling to Worcester, Massachusetts for a two-game series with the Crusaders of Holy Cross. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both Friday, January 20 and Saturday, January 21.