Box Score

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Junior goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant had Army firing blanks on Saturday night as he continued his stellar season with a 28-save performance to lead the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team to a 3-1 victory against Army at Tate Rink. The Lakers, with the weekend sweep, improved to 11-9-2 overall and 9-1-1 in conference play. The Black Knights dropped to 3-14-0 overall and 3-10-0 in AHA play.

Coupled with Bentley's loss against Niagara on Saturday night, the Lakers now have a three-point lead in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings.

Sarjeant allowed little for Army the entire weekend, turning aside 60-of-62 shots in the two-game weekend sweep. He improved to 11-4-2 overall and 9-0-1 in conference play.

Junior forward Edward DeWald, who hadn't scored a collegiate goal in his first 50 games in a Mercyhurst uniform, put the Lakers ahead 2-1 at the 14:33 mark of the second period with his second goal in his last four games. It proved to be the first game-winning goal of his career. DeWald was able to bang home a rebound, flipping a shot over the outstretched glove hand of Army netminder Rob Tadazak, who was on in relief of freshman Tanner Creel after the rookie left with an injury. Junior defenseman Grant Gettinger and redshirt freshman Alec Shields had the assists on DeWald's game-winner.

Despite being outshot 11-5 in the opening period, and not recording its first shot until the 7:54 mark, Mercyhurst drew first blood with a power play goal from junior Daniel Bahntge at 14:10. The Lakers, who went 2-for-5 on the power play on Friday, struck on their only man advantage in the first period when Bahntge buried his ninth goal of the season past Creel, who was making his collegiate debut. Senior Daniel O'Donoghue and redshirt junior Kyle Just worked the puck along the point and Just found Bahntge in front, who deked out Creel and slid the puck under the fallen netminder's glove.

Sarjeant was the difference in the opening period, stopping all 11 Army shots including a breakaway opportunity by Maurice Alvarez at the 8:12 mark and a point-black opportunity from in front by Kyle Plageman just moments later.

The hosts would tie the game at 1-1 just 32 seconds into the second period with Mercyhurst's Tyler Shiplo in the box for a slashing penalty assessed late in the first frame. Clint Carlisle ripped a shot from the right wing circle that Sarjeant got a piece of, but not enough to keep it from crossing the goal line. Carlisle's third goal of the season was assisted by C.J. Reuschlein and Christian Pomarico.

Creel, who made some brilliant saves at the outset of the period, left at the first media timeout of the second with an injury. Rob Tadazak, who started on Friday, entered and played well until the Lakers struck at the 14:33 mark with DeWald's game-winner.

The freshman netminder for Army returned to play the third period and allowed a power play goal to O'Donoghue with 1:23 left in regulation after a beautiful centering feed from junior Matthew Zay. Shiplo had the other assist on the power play tally.

Special teams again were huge for Mercyhurst. After going 2-for-5 on the power play on Friday, the Lakers were an identical 2-for-5 on Saturday night. Army, meanwhile, went 1-for-3.

Tadazak suffered the loss for Army, playing 14:48 in relief and allowing the game-winner to DeWald in nine shots on goal. Creel, making his debut, was strong, turning aside 10-of-12 Mercyhurst shots. Sarjeant stopped 28-of-29 for his 11th win of the season.

Mercyhurst will be back on the road next Friday and Saturday, January 10 and 11, when it travels to Worcester, Massachusetts for a pair of contests against Holy Cross. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. both nights.