Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. – Just like last season, there will be a game three between Mercyhurst and Holy Cross in the Atlantic Hockey Association Quarterfinals.

The Crusaders scored two third period goals, erasing a 2-1 deficit, to come-from-behind to defeat the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team in front of 1,522 fans at the Hart Center in Worcester, Massachsetts. The series will now be decided in a winner take all game three on Sunday evening beginning at 5:05 p.m. The Lakers had their five-game unbeaten streak snapped and dropped to 17-16-5 overall on the season. Holy Cross improved to 20-13-3.

Joe McNamara's power play goal at the 9:08 mark of the third period proved to be the difference. With sophomore Daniel Bahntge in the penalty box, Holy Cross won the faceoff inside the Mercyhurst zone, eventually working it back to the point. McNamara snapped a shot from the left point through plenty of traffic in front, beating senior goaltender Max Strang for his first collegiate goal. Shayne Stockton had the lone assist.

Mercyhurst, trying to end Holy Cross' season, started the scoring at the 14:39 mark of the opening period when sophomore Chris Bodo redirected a shot from the right point from sophomore defenseman Tyler Shiplo past Holy Cross goaltender Matt Ginn. It was Bodo's team-leading 18th goal of the season. Senior Grant Blakey had the other helper on Bodo's tally.

It was a first period that saw just nine total shots on goal, with Holy Cross holding a 5-4 edge.

The Crusaders would tie the game at 1-1 at the 12:43 mark of the second period with some great puck movement on the power play. With Blakey in the penalty box, Holy Cross won an offensive zone faceoff, worked it into the corner to Rob Linsmayer, who then found Brandon Nunn in front of Strang. Nunn one-timed it past the Laker netminder for his 12th goal of the season. Stockton had the other assist.

But, Blakey responded with a power play goal less than two minutes later, at the 14:30 mark of the second period. Junior Kyle Just took the shot from the left point that Blakey got a stick on, redirecting it past Ginn over the netminder's shoulder, recapturing the one-goal lead for the Lakers. Shiplo had the other assist on the goal.

Shots favored Holy Cross in the second period by a 22-11 margin.

Stockton tied the game at 2-2 with a wrap-around goal at the 6:06 mark, catching Strang and the Laker defense off guard. It was his 13th goal of the season and was unassisted.

Strang suffered the loss despite stopping 35-of-38 shots on goal. He dropped to 12-10-3 on the season. Ginn turned aside 31-of-33 Mercyhurst shots to win his 19th game of the season.

Holy Cross went 2-for-4 on the power play while Mercyhurst went 1-for-2.

The decisive game three will take place on Sunday evening from the Hart Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Faceoff is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. You can hear all of the action, beginning with the pregame at 4:50, on WMCE 88.5 FM or online at wmce.mercyhurst.edu.