Box Score

ERIE, Pa. -  Mercyhurst and Army battled for 65 minutes Friday night before settling for a 1-1 overtime tie. Each team got a point in the tightly-bunched Atlantic Hockey Association. The Lakers left the ice with a 12-10-2 overall mark and a 10-6-1 record in the conference. The Black Knights are now 7-12-4 and 7-7-4 respectively.

The Lakers got on the board first when senior Paul Chiasson one-timed a pass from junior linemate Daniel O'Donoghue past Army freshman netminder Rob Tadazak. Chiasson, who had the game-winner and 100th career point in Tuesday's 5-2 win over Canisius, has scored seven goals in his last six games. The play began when senior Grant Blakey won a faceoff to Tadazak's left with about five minutes left in the opening period. O'Donoghue then sent it to Chiasson, who did the rest. O'Donoghue now has at least one point in seven of his last eight games (4g, 10a) while Blakey has at least a point in five of his last six (1g, 5a).

Mercyhurst had a chance to extend its lead less than 30 seconds later when Army took a penalty, but the Black Knights limited the Lakers to just one shot during the man advantage. Mercyhurst outshot Army 13-9 in the first period.  

The game remained 1-0 until 7:09 of the second when Army sophomore Zak Zaremba split Mercyhurst's defense and beat senior Max Strang. Sophomore Maurice Alvarez and freshman Shane Hearn had the assists. Little did anyone realize that Zaremba's lamplighter would be the final goal of the game. Mercyhurst took three penalties in the middle period, including one on the tying goal, while Army was whistled for two minor infractions. Army had 13 of the period's 24 shots.

The Lakers outshot the Black Knights 17-7 over the final 25 minutes but, despite a number of outstanding chances, could not get the go-ahead goal. Army also threatened periodically, but both goaltenders held their ground. Tadazak, the game's first star, stopped 40 shots, including five in the extra session and now owns a 3-6-3 record. Strang, the contest's second star, turned aside 28 of 29 and now has a 9-5-1 mark. Strang, the conference Goaltender of the Month of January, now has given up two-or-fewer goals in eight of his last nine appearances.

Mercyhurst's power play was 0 for 3, has been quiet for the last three games and has converted just two of its last 17 chances. Army finished 0 for 2 with the extra skater.

The single point moved Mercyhurst into a tie for second with Air Force (21 pts.), pending the outcome of the Air Force/AIC contest in Colorado.

Despite the stalemate, Mercyhurst owns a commanding 26-9-4 record lifetime against Army and is 18-1-2 at home.

The two teams will wrap up the weekend series Saturday at 7:05.