Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Sophomore Zac Frischmon scored with 5:26 left in regulation to break a 1-1 tie, helping to lead the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory over the Black Knights of Army in game one of the first round Atlantic Hockey Association postseason tournament. The Lakers, who improved to 15-15-5 overall, took a one game to none lead in the best-of-three series over their counterparts from West Point. The Black Knights dropped to 7-21-5 overall.

It was a night where the Mercyhurst unsung heroes took center stage. The Lakers got goals from junior Kyle Just, only his fourth goal of the season, and Frischmon, just his third of the year. Plus, junior defenseman Randy Cure made, perhaps, the save of the night to keep the Lakers ahead by a goal late in the third period.

Frischmon played in his 73rd career game in a Mercyhurst uniform and had never scored a game-winning goal.

Until Friday night.

Just under four minutes after the Lakers tied the game at 1-1 on only the fourth goal of the season by Just, Frischmon received a great feed from sophomore Ryan Misiak just to the right side of the Army cage. The sophomore from Ham Lake, Minnesota shoved a wrist shot along the ice that beat Army goaltender Rob Tadazak to the far side to give the Lakers their first lead of the night.

It was just Frischmon's third goal of the season and his fifth collegiate goal.

Both teams entered the series as the teams struggling the most heading into postseason play. The Lakers had not tasted a victory since an 8-1 win over Robert Morris on February 5, going 0-5-3 over the last eight contests. Meanwhile, Army had not posted a victory since January 4 - a 5-0 victory over Robert Morris - a span of 15 games (0-12-3). One of the skids had to come to an end on Friday night, and fortunately for the Lakers, it was they who reversed their fate.

Things certainly were not easy for the Lakers. Army, known for its physical style and solid defense, kept pace with the Lakers, holding off an early Mercyhurst barrage in the first period. In fact, Army was outshot 9-0 before recording its first shot on goal with 8:27 left in the opening period.

Despite the lopsided shot totals early, it was the visitors that took the lead. Just after a minor penalty to senior Grant Blakey had expired, the Black Knights broke the scoreless tie at the 17:49 mark of the opening period when Andy Starczewski beat Mercyhurst goaltender, junior Jordan Tibbett, for a 1-0 lead. Starczewski received a perfect tape-to-tape pass from Josh Richards and then one-timed a shot past the Laker goaltender for his 11th goal of the season. Mac Lalor had the other assist.

Shots favored Mercyhurst in the opening period by an 11-5 margin.

After a scoreless second period that saw Army outshoot Mercyhurst 10-8, the Black Knights went into a defense-first mode in the third period to try to preserve the one-goal lead.

However, Mercyhurst finally gave the home crowd something to cheer about at the 10:38 mark of the third period. Junior Daniel O'Donoghue snapped a shot from the right wing circle that Tadazak was able to stop with the pads. But, Just was left uncovered on the doorstep and slid the rebound past the Army goaltender to knot the contest at 1-1, setting up Frischmon's heroics. It was only Just's second goal since a 5-4 victory at Air Force on November 30. Freshman defenseman Anthony Mastrodicasa had the other helper on the tally.

Frischmon gave the Lakers a 2-1 lead at the 14:34 mark, giving the Lakers their first lead of the night. Then, with time winding down in the third, Cure came up with the save of the game, keeping the home team in front. During a wild flurry in front of Tibbett, the Laker netminder found himself well out of position, leaving the goal virtually unattended. Army's Willie Faust found himself open and took a shot towards the goal that Cure was able to deflect away, preserving the one-goal lead.

Army pulled Tadazak with 1:15 left in regulation after taking a timeout. But, just 18 seconds later, sophomore Chris Bodo got behind the Army defense, after an outlet pass from sophomore Matthew Zay, and deposited the puck into the empty net to seal the victory. It was Bodo's team-leading 17th goal of the season. Blakey had the other helper.

Mercyhurst improved to 28-9-4 lifetime against the Black Knights, including 20-1-2 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Tibbett earned his first victory since beating Clarkson 3-1 on December 15. He improved to 4-6-1 after turning aside 20-of-21 Army shots. Tadazak played well in defeat, stopping 25 Mercyhurst shots in the loss. He fell to 3-12-4 on the season.

Neither team could convert on the power play. The Lakers went 0-for-6 while the Black Knights went 0-for-5.

Game two of the opening round series will take place on Saturday night from the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.