Box Score

WATERTOWN, Mass. - The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team allowed three power play goals on Saturday and dropped a 5-1 decision at Bentley University to conclude the weekend series. Mercyhurst dropped to 4-5-1 overall and 4-2-0 in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings. Meanwhile, the Falcons improved to 6-5-0 overall and 5-3-0 in the conference.

Mercyhurst's penalty killing unit had been successful on 25-of-31 (80.6%) opponent power play chances going into Saturday's game. However, Bentley used Mercyhurst penalties to its advantage all afternoon, converting 3-of-4 power play opportunities en route to the victory. The performance dropped Mercyhurst's season average to 74.3% (26-of-35).

It took the Falcons just three minutes and six seconds to solve junior goaltender Jordan Tibbett and to take a 1-0 lead. Dan Koudys notched his third goal of the season with assists going to Jared Rickord and Alex Kubiak. Then, with senior Paul Chiasson in the Laker penalty box, serving a minor penalty assessed to Tibbett, the Falcons cashed in on their first power play of the afternoon at the 13:41 mark of the opening period. Andrew Gladiuk scored his first of two goals with Steve Weinstein and Matt Bloomquist picking up the helpers.

Mercyhurst would get its only goal of the afternoon with one second remaining in the opening period on a power play goal of its own. Junior defenseman Nick Jones was given credit for the goal, his third goal of the season, and his 10th career power play goal. Chiasson and sophomore Ryan Misiak had the assists. Jones is now tied for second on the team with three goals while Misiak snapped his three-game pointless streak with the assist - his 10th point of the season.

The Lakers held a slim margin in shots on goal after the opening period, 13-12.

Bentley would score the only goal of the second period at the 9:07 mark. This time, with Chiasson in the box serving a bench penalty for too many men on the ice, Gladiuk notched his second goal of the game, and eighth of the season, recapturing a two-goal lead for the Falcons. Weinstein and Brett Gensler had the assists on the goal.

The Falcons outshot Mercyhurst in the second period, 13-7.

The theme would continue in the third period. With sophomore Nardo Nagtzaam in the penalty box, Bentley would make it 4-1 at the 2:08 mark on a goal by Alex Grieve. Weinstein and Bloomquist had the assists.

Head coach Rick Gotkin tried to get the Lakers back into the game, pulling Tibbett with more than three minutes left in regulation. But, with Tibbett on the bench for the extra skater, Bentley scored the final goal of the afternoon at the 16:58 mark of the third period. Justin Breton was credited with the goal. Gensler and Grieve had the assists.

Bentley outshot Mercyhurst 37-26 for the contest. Tibbett was saddled with the loss, dropping to 1-2-0 on the season. He stopped 32 shots in defeat for the Lakers. Meanwhile, Bentley starter Branden Komm evened his record at 5-5-0 with a 25-save performance.

Bentley, as mentioned, went 3-for-4 on the power play and is now 14-for-40 this season with the man advantage (35.0%). The Lakers were 1-for-4 on the power play on Saturday.

The Lakers did a fine job on Brett Gensler all weekend. Gensler had two assists on Saturday after being held scoreless in Mercyhurst's 4-3 win on Friday. It was just the second time all season that Gensler has been held without a point. He entered the weekend leading the country in scoring with 19 points in nine games.

Mercyhurst will finally play the last game of its 11-game road trip to start the 2012-13 season. The Lakers will fly to Colorado Springs, Colorado for one game with the Falcons of Air Force on Friday, November 30. Faceoff is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. EST. The Lakers will then be home for the first time during the regular season on Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8 for a pair of conference games against American International.