Box Score

ORONO, Maine - Junior Daniel O'Donoghue registered his first career hat trick as part of a career-high five-point night and senior goaltender Max Strang stopped a season-high 43 shots as the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team defeated the University of Maine, 5-2, in front of 3,530 fans at Alfond Arena. The win moved the Lakers to 9-7-1 overall on the season while the Black Bears dropped to 5-12-2.

Saturday night marked the first-ever win by the Lakers over Maine. Mercyhurst is now 1-5-1 lifetime against the Black Bears with all seven games being played in the state of Maine. It was the second time this season that Mercyhurst has recorded a first-ever win against an opponent. On December 15, Mercyhurst also earned its first-ever win at Clarkson with a 3-1 victory over the Golden Knights.

O'Donoghue scored three goals and added two assists, having a hand in all five Mercyhurst goals on the night. It was his first career hat-trick and his five points broke his previous high of three points accomplished on three different occasions. The five points were the most by a Mercyhurst player since Scott Pitt and Steve Cameron each had six points in an 11-1 victory at American International on December 6, 2008.

Meanwhile, Strang's 43 saves were a season-high and were his most since stopping 50-of-51 shots in a 2-1 victory at Air Force on February 18, 2012. The senior from Gilbertsville, Pa. stopped 15-of-16 shots in the first, all nine Maine shots in the second, and then stopped 19-of-20 in the third period to earn his sixth victory of the season against three losses.

Unlike Friday, the Black Bears started the scoring with a goal by Connor Leen at the 5:06 mark of the opening period, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead. Leen's team-leading fifth goal of the season was assisted by Brice O'Connor and Devin Shore.

However, with 14 seconds left in the opening period, senior Paul Chiasson tied the contest at 1-1 with his fourth goal of the season and his second goal of the weekend. Chiasson, who added an assist later in the contest, now needs eight points to reach 100 for his career and six goals for 50 career tallies. O'Donoghue and senior forward Grant Blakey had the assists.

Maine outshot the Lakers 16-9 in the opening period.

The second period was dominated by Mercyhurst, despite only getting one goal to take a 2-1 lead heading to the locker room after 40 minutes. O'Donoghue would score his first of the night, and fourth of the season, at the 16:20 mark of the middle period to give the Lakers their first lead of the night. Blakey and Chiasson had the assists.

Mercyhurst outshot Maine 17-9 in the second period and held a 26-25 advantage in shots after two periods.

The Black Bears would tie the game at 2-2 with a power play goal from Kyle Beattie at the 4:21 mark of the third period. Leen and Mike Cornell had the assists.

Mercyhurst took the lead for good at the 10:39 mark with a power play goal from sophomore Chris Bodo. O'Donoghue and sophomore Matthew Zay had the assists on the eventual game-winning goal.

Overshadowed by the performances from O'Donoghue and Strang, Bodo's goal was his ninth goal of the season, which gives him the team lead, and was also his seventh power play goal of the season, which ties him for the nation's lead with Minnesota State's Eriah Hayes. The seven power play goals by Bodo are the most since Matt Pierce and Phil Ginand each scored nine during the 2008-09 season.

O'Donoghue and Strang would seal the deal in the closing moments of the game.

With senior Charlie Carkin in the penalty box, Maine would pull goaltender Matt Morris with 1:43 left in regulation, giving the Black Bears a two-skater advantage. However, just eight seconds into Maine's power play, O'Donoghue cashed his first of two shorthanded empty-net goals, giving Mercyhurst a 4-2 lead. Sophomore defenseman Grant Gettinger had the assist.

Then, with Morris on the bench again, and with Maine enjoying another two-man advantage, O'Donoghue completed the hat trick at the 19:38 mark with an assist from Strang. The two shorthanded goals by O'Donoghue were the most in a game by a Laker since Mike Gurtler scored three shorthanded goals in a 5-1 victory over Holy Cross on November 20, 2009.

During the last 1:43 of regulation, Strang made six saves to help seal the victory.

Maine outshot Mercyhurst 45-33 for the contest, but Strang was the difference. Morris made 28 saves in a losing effort for Maine. He fell to 2-1-0 on the season.

Mercyhurst went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Black Bears went 1-for-4 with the man advantage.

The Lakers will get back into conference action the rest of the regular season, beginning with a two-game showdown with Holy Cross next Friday, January 11 and Saturday, January 12 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Crusaders, ranked 20th in the latest USCHO.com poll, are tied for third with the Lakers in the conference standings with 14 points. Faceoffs both nights are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.