Box Score

ERIE, Pa. -  The February struggles continued for the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team on Saturday night as the Lakers remained winless in their last six games (0-5-1), dropping a 4-2 verdict to #15/16 Niagara University. The victory improved the Purple Eagles overall record to 21-6-5 and their Atlantic Hockey Association (AHA) mark to 20-3-2. The Lakers fell below .500 overall, 14-15-3, and to 12-11-2 in the conference. The Niagara win completed a three-game regular season sweep.

Junior netminder Jordan Tibbett made his first start in five weeks and was rudely greeted by Niagara senior Marc Zanette, who notched his ninth goal of the season just 26 seconds into the contest. Zanette's lamplighhter completed a Niagara two-on-one rush. Tibbett and the Lakers settled down the rest of the period, but went to the dressing room down a goal. The Purple Eagles had an 11-7 advantage in shots.

Mercyhurst drew even in the middle period when sophomore winger Chris Bodo collected his team-leading 15th goal of the season, during a four-on-three skater advantage, at 11:43. Kyle Just and Matthew Zay assisted.

But Niagara retaliated with a pair of goals, 30 seconds apart, later in the second. Junior Ryan Rashid cashed in on a power play at 13:54 and freshman Hugo Turcotte scored his second of the weekend series at 14:24. Niagara outshot Mercyhurst 18-12 in the middle frame.

The arrival of the third period marked the return of Mercyhurst sophomore goalie Jimmy Sarjeant.  Sarjeant last played December 7 (26:41) in a relief role in a 7-3 loss to American International. He and the Lakers limited Niagara to just four third period shots, but junior Ryan Murphy found the back of the net late in the game on a Purple Eagles' power play.

Then with less than a minute to play, and with Niagara down a man and the Lakers' net empty, Bodo collected his second score of the game and his 10th power play goal of the season. Just and defenseman Nick Jones helped.

The Lakers outshot Niagara 14-4 in the third as the teams evenly divided 66 total shots. The Lakers finished 2 for 7 with the man advantage while Niagara was 2 for 4.

Bodo's ten power play goals are the most by a Mercyhurst player since Phil Ginand had ten in 2008-09. Bodo is now tied for third nationally in power play goals.

The six-game winless streak is Mercyhurst's longest since the team went 0-6 (all against non-conference opponents) starting October 10, 2008 and ending with a 4-3 overtime win at Holy Cross nearly a month later.

The loss also knocked the Lakers from a third-place tie in the conference to a tie for sixth with Rochester Institute of Technology. The top four teams at regular season's end receive an opening round bye in the playoffs. The best the Lakers can finish now is third; the worst is eighth.

The Lakers will close the regular season next weekend with a home-and-home against Robert Morris. After visiting suburban Pittsburgh on Friday, the Lakers will honor four seniors before Saturday's 7:05 p.m. start at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.