Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University men's hockey team jumped out to a 2-0 lead on visiting Niagara University on Friday night but had to settle for a 3-3 overtime tie against the Purple Eagles at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers moved to 17-12-6 overall and 15-4-5 in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings. Niagara moved to 10-16-5 overall and 10-9-5 in conference play.

Mercyhurst did, however, get some help from the two teams in the basement of the conference. Sacred Heart came from behind to defeat second-place Bentley by a 5-4 final, extending the Laker lead to three points in the conference standings with three games remaining. Last-place Army, meanwhile, stunned Connecticut, knocking off the Huskies, 4-3. Connecticut had been tied for third place, but was bumped from that position after the loss and a Robert Morris victory on Friday night.

Freshman Stephen Hrehoriak tied his career-high with three points on Friday night with a goal and two assists. He had also scored a goal and two assists in the Lakers' 6-1 victory at American International on November 30. Juniors Daniel Bahntge and Chris Bodo had the other tallies for the Lakers.

The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 advantage after the opening period thanks to goals from Bahntge and Bodo. Bahntge scored the first Mercyhurst goal just 3:58 into the contest, registering his 15th of the season. Hrehoriak sent an outlet pass up the right wing boards to senior Daniel O'Donoghue, who then found Bahntge with a centering pass that the junior one-timed from between the circles past Niagara goaltender Jackson Teichroeb. Bahntge now trails junior Matthew Zay, who missed Friday's game due to injury, by one for the team lead in goals this season.

Bodo extended the Laker lead to 2-0 at the 18:01 mark of the first period with his tenth goal of the season. Hrehoriak and junior Zac Frischmon worked behind the Niagara goal and then the freshman centered a pass to a wide open Bodo in front. Bodo beat Teichroeb to the short side for his first goal since recording his first career hat trick at Holy Cross on January 11.

Despite leading 2-0 after the first, Mercyhurst was outshot in the opening twenty minutes by an 11-10 margin.

Niagara bounced back with a pair of goals in the second period to knot the game at 2-2 after forty minutes. Vince Muto got the Purple Eagles on the board just 63 seconds into the middle stanza with his fourth goal of the season, blasting a slapshot from just outside the right circle past Mercyhurst junior goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant. Hugo Turcotte and Chris Lochner had the assists.

Stephen Pietrobon tied the game at the 5:56 mark with his fifth goal of the season. Matt Chiarantano and Dan Kolenda had the helpers.

Niagara held a 17-11 shot advantage in the second.

Hrehoriak gave the Lakers a 3-2 lead just 54 seconds into the third period with his sixth goal of the season. Redshirt junior Kyle Just led a 3-on-1 break and centered it for Hrehoriak, who one-timed it past Teichroeb from between the circles. Sophomore Anthony Mastrodicasa had the other assist.

But, again, the Purple Eagles responded on a goal by T.J. Sarcona at the 3:22 mark. Isaac Kohls and Mike Conderman had the assists on, what proved to be, the final goal of the night.

Both teams had chances down the stretch, but none bigger than the Lakers, who had a breakway opportunity by Hrehoriak later in the third period. The freshman went to the forehand, trying to sneak one through the five-hole of Teichroeb, but the Niagara goaltender shut the pads and turned aside the scoring chance. Then, in overtime, the Lakers were given a power play just 46 seconds into the five-minute period. Mercyhurst peppered Teichroeb with five shots in the two minutes but could not get the game-winner.

All told, Niagara outshot Mercyhurst 47-36, including a 33-20 advantage in the second and third periods. Sarjeant finished with his second consecutive 40-plus-save performance, turning aside 44 Purple Eagle shots to move to 15-4-5 on the season. He remained unbeaten in conference play this season (13-0-4). Teichroeb moved to 4-10-3 with 33 saves for Niagara.

The scenarios are as follows for the Lakers:

- Mercyhurst can clinch a first-round bye in the AHA playoffs with a win or tie OR a Connecticut loss or tie
- Mercyhurst can clinch its first Atlantic Hockey Association regular season championship with a win AND a loss or tie by Bentley AND a loss or tie by Air Force AND a loss or tie by Robert Morris
- Mercyhurst can also clinch the AHA regular season title with a tie AND losses by Bentley, Air Force, and Robert Morris

The Lakers and Purple Eagles will conclude the weekend series on Saturday night at the Dwyer Arena in Niagara Falls. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.