ERIE, Pa. - Senior forward Daniel Bahntge continued to torment Sacred Heart with another game-winning goal and an assist and freshman goalie Brandon Wildung (3-1-2) stopped 34 shots as the Mercyhurst University men's hockey team rallied from a 2-0 first period deficit to defeat the Pioneers 4-2 on Saturday night and complete a weekend sweep at the Ice Center. Mercyhurst improved to 10-6-3 overall and to 8-3-2 in the Atlantic Hockey Conference (AHC) standings. Sacred Heart, 1-7-1 in its last nine, fell to 6-13-3 and 5-8-3 respectively.

Bahntge has now scored a goal in all eight of his career meetings against Sacred Heart and has twelve goals and seven assists for 19 points in the eight contests. He had both game-winning goals this weekend to give him a team-leading four game-winning tallies this season. He is tied for fourth in the country with his four game-winning markers.

The Pioneers, who trailed 3-0 after twenty minutes on Friday night, enjoyed a 2-1 lead after a period Saturday night. Sacred Heart actually opened a 2-0 lead midway thru the first when freshman forward Alec Butcher tallied his second of the season – and first of the weekend – at 7:24 with the Pioneers up a man. The goal was Sacred Heart's third power play goal of the weekend.  Junior forward Zach Luczyk then gave the Pioneers a two-goal lead at 10:52 when he converted a Mercyhurst turnover in its own end. But, Mercyhurst senior captain Matthew Zay stopped the bleeding with his fifth of the season, and the Lakers' third power play goal of the series, at 18:47 when he banged home his own rebound. Bahntge and junior defenseman Anthony Mastrodicasa assisted. Sacred Heart outshot Mercyhurst 10-8 in the period.

The Lakers scored three times in the second, despite being outshot 13-9. Senior Zac Frischmon got the Lakers even with his third of the year at 5:45, redirecting a brilliant centering feed from junior forward Alec Shields. Freshman winger Jonathan Charbonneau also helped. Bahntge put Mercyhurst ahead to stay with his ninth of the season, and third of the weekend, at 8:04. Freshman forward Kane Elliot, who picked up his fourth assist of the weekend on the goal, found Bahntge with a nifty no-look pass from behind the Sacred Heart net, to give the Lakers their first lead of the night. Mastrodicasa picked up his second assist of the night, and third of the weekend on the tally. 

Freshman defenseman Tyler Enns finished the scoring and Sacred Heart with his first collegiate goal at 10:32. Enns picked up his own rebound, carried it behind the Sacred Heart goal, and tucked the puck in on a wraparound attempt. The goal was originally waved off but, after a video review, it was clear that the puck crossed the goal line. Freshman forward Jack Riley and Zay helped on the lamplighter.

All the damage came against Sacred Heart senior goaltender Alex Vazzano (2-7-0). Vazzano, who played 7:47 in relief Friday, played 57 minutes-plus Saturday before being pulled for an extra skater down the stretch.

Sacred Heart outshot Mercyhurst 13-1 in the third and 36-18 for the game, but was silenced after the first period.

Both teams were penalized eight times for 16 minutes Saturday. The Lakers finished 1-for-6 on Saturday with the man advantage and were 3-for-8 in the two games. The Pioneers were also 1-for-6 Saturday and 3-for-9 for the weekend.

Mercyhurst will have precious little time to rest as the Lakers will host Canisius on Tuesday night, January 13, at the Ice Center at 7:05 p.m. The game was originally scheduled November 21, but was postponed after a major snowstorm hit the Buffalo area. Mercyhurst, Canisius, and Bentley are all tied for third in the conference, one point behind second-place Holy Cross and five back of first-place Robert Morris. The Lakers have two games in hand on the Golden Griffins, Falcons, and Crusaders and three on the Colonials.

Notes: Bahntge recorded a career- high five points (2g, 3a) on Friday and finished the weekend with three goals and four assists for seven points…Bahntge also had both game-winners over the weekend to take over the team lead with four…Riley had his second four-point game of the season Friday and, with an assist Saturday, now has a seven-game scoring streak…Senior defenseman Ryan Misiak's seven-game point scoring streak came to an end Saturday…Wildung has now started three successive games (2-0-1) and has stopped a combined 93 of 99 shots in those three starts…Prior to Friday's win, the Lakers were just 2-5-1 this season in the first game of a weekend pair….the Lakers are now 7-1-1 in the nightcap…The Lakers' seven goals Friday equaled their one-game high this season (7-5 at home over Army Saturday, November 8)… Mercyhurst now leads the all-time series against Sacred Heart, 23-19-3. The Lakers have won the last eight meetings, nine of the last ten, and twelve of the last fifteen…Mercyhurst is now 15-7-1 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center against Sacred Heart and has not lost to the Pioneers on home ice since a 3-2 overtime loss on November 23, 2007.