Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. - Jimmy Sarjeant added a whole new page to his storybook season on Friday night.

The junior goaltender stopped a career-high 51 shots in earning his first collegiate shutout, leading the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team to a 1-0 victory over Holy Cross at the Hart Center. The Lakers, winners of their last three, improved to 12-9-2 overall and an AHA-leading 10-1-1 in the conference standings. The Crusaders dropped to 4-14-2 overall and 3-8-2 in league play.

Sophomore forward Kyle Cook provided the only offense of the night for the Lakers, beating Holy Cross netminder Matt Ginn at the 2:01 mark of the third period for his fourth goal of the season. It was his first game-winning goal of the year and the second of his career. He buried the game-winner in Mercyhurst's 3-1 win at Clarkson on December 15, 2012.

Redshirt junior Kyle Just and freshman Philippe Drouin provided the assists on Cook's goal.

It was all Mercyhurst, who entered play fifth in the nation in scoring offense, could muster against Ginn and the Crusader defense. Ginn suffered the hard-luck loss, turning aside 25 Mercyhurst shots to fall to 4-14-2 on the season.

But, the story of the night was Sarjeant.

The Aurora, Ontario native stopped 23 shots in the first period, 10 shots in the second, and 18 more in the third period to shatter his previous career-high of 42 saves in the Lakers' 6-3 loss at Ohio State on December 28.

Sarjeant rewrote Laker history on Friday night in what was Mercyhurst's second consecutive 1-0 win at the Hart Center. The Lakers eliminated the Crusaders last March after Jordan Tibbett earned his first career shutout in game three of the Atlantic Hockey Association quarterfinals. It was also the second straight game that Holy Cross has been shutout this season - the Crusaders dropped a 3-0 decision to Canisius last Saturday.

His 51 saves were the most by a Laker goaltender since Ryan Zapolski stopped 63 in Mercyhurst's 5-4 double overtime loss against Canisius on March 13, 2010. His total marked the most saves in a regular season game since Matt Lundin turned aside 51 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss at RIT on November 17, 2007. It also proved to be the most stops in a non-overtime game since Jordan Wakefield had 52 saves in a 3-1 loss at Air Force on January 6, 2007.

And, to put the icing on the cake, Sarjeant's 51 saves on Friday night were the most by a Laker goaltender in a shutout since Mercyhurst joined Division I play in the 1999-2000 season.

All Sarjeant has done since taking over between the pipes is post a 12-4-2 overall record with a 2.44 goals against average and a .929 save percentage. His save percentage is 14th in the country while his winning percentage of .722 is 12th in the nation. In conference play, his numbers are staggering - 10-0-1 with a 1.72 goals against average and a .950 save percentage.

Over his last three games - all road victories - Sarjeant is 3-0 with a 0.67 goals against average and a .982 save percentage (111-of-113).

Sarjeant and the Lakers will look to keep their three-point lead in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings when they conclude their weekend series at Holy Cross on Saturday night. Faceoff from the Hart Center is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.