Complete Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Freshman Ryan Misiak scored two goals and sophomore goaltender Jordan Tibbett had another outstanding start in goal, as the Mercyhurst men's hockey team earned a 3-1 victory over Robert Morris on Friday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The win improved the Lakers' overall record to 16-11-4 and, more importantly, moved their conference record to 13-5-4. Meanwhile, the Colonials dropped to .500 overall at 13-13-3 and saw their conference record drop to 11-8-3.

Coupled with the other results in Atlantic Hockey on Friday night, the win moved the Lakers into second place in the conference standings with 30 points, one point behind Air Force, who defeated Niagara 2-0. RIT is in third with 29 points, while Niagara rounds out the top four with 27 points in the standings. The top four teams get a bye in the first round of the playoffs and then host the winners of the opening round series the following weekend in a best-of-three series.

Misiak picked a good night to earn his first career multi-goal game. The freshman scored a power play goal late in the first period and then scored an even-strength goal near the midway mark of the second for his first career two-goal game. Misiak, a native of Shelby Township, Michigan, now has six goals on the season.

Meanwhile, Tibbett, making his second consecutive start, was brilliant again. The sophomore from Indianapolis stopped 31-of-32 Robert Morris shots, including all 13 shots on goal in the third period. Mercyhurst was outshot in the final twenty minutes 13-4, but Tibbett made the two-goal lead stand. He improved to 3-0-1 on the season and lowered his goals against average to 1.90 in his six appearances (four starts). He now has a .946 save percentage, allowing just nine goals in 167 shots.

Excellent puck movement during a Mercyhurst power play got the Lakers on the board first, at the 15:58 mark of the opening period. Misiak was the beneficiary, beating Robert Morris goaltender Brooks Ostergard with a one-timer from the left wing circle. Freshman Daniel Bahntge and senior Kevin Noble had the assists. It was just the ninth power play goal that the Colonials, who entered with the nation's best penalty killing unit, have allowed all season.

Shots were dead even at nine apiece in the opening period.

After a Mercyhurst bench minor for too many men on the ice, Bahntge found Misiak, who was serving the penalty, behind the Colonial defense. Misiak went in alone on the Robert Morris netminder, made a sensational move, and slid a backhander past Ostergard at the 7:26 mark of the second period for a 2-0 Mercyhurst lead.

The Colonials would counter with their only goal of the night. Colin South banged home a rebound past Tibbett to cut the Mercyhurst lead to 2-1 at the 10:34 mark. Cody Cartier and Tyson Wilson had the assists.

But, the Lakers would respond and reclaim a two-goal lead at the 16:44 mark of the second period, when freshman Nardo Nagtzaam banged home his 10th goal of the season after a great pass from freshman Tyler Shiplo. Nagtzaam went back door and Shiplo found him with Ostergard well out of position. Noble had the other assist.

Shots again were dead even in the second period, with each team taking 10 shots on goal.

The third period belonged to Tibbett and the Mercyhurst defense. Robert Morris pulled Ostergard with 2:38 left in regulation, but the Colonials could muster just two shots on goal with the extra attacker. Tibbett made 13 saves in the third period, as the Lakers were outshot 13-4.

Mercyhurst was outshot 32-23 for the game. Ostergard made 20 saves in defeat, seeing his record fall to 7-9-2 on the season. Robert Morris went 0-for-5 on the power play while the Lakers went 1-for-3 against the nation's best penalty killing unit.

The series will shift to suburban Pittsburgh on Saturday night as the two teams will square off at the RMU Island Sports Center to conclude the weekend. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.