BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Sophomore Taylor Best scored two goals in his first game of the season as the Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team defeated Sacred Heart, 5-3, during Atlantic Hockey play on Friday.
 
Junior Kane Elliot and sophomores Wes Baker and Josh Lammon recorded one goal each for the Lakers (6-8-0, 6-5-0). Freshman Joey Duszak tallied three assists while junior Zach Todd had two assists. Juniors Michael Verboom and Stephen Hrehoriak, sophomores Alex Carlson and Matthew Whittaker and freshman James Anderson picked up one assist apiece.
 
Sacred Heart's three goals came on power play chances. The Pioneer goal-scorers were Nick Lotito, Evan Jasper and Coltyn Hansen.
 
Best shook off the dust by scoring the first goal of the game as Todd and Duszak picked up assists. Mercyhurst took that 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

During the second period, Elliot and Baker scored in succession, putting the Lakers ahead 3-0. Verboom and Duszak assisted Elliot before Hrehoriak and Anderson assisted Baker.

The host Pioneers (5-10-2, 3-8-0) answered with two goals of their own; both Lotito and Jasper scored on the power play.

Lammon pushed the Laker lead back to two when he beat Sacred Heart goaltender Brett Magnus. Carlson and Todd were credited assist on the goal as Mercyhurst ook a 4-2 into the third.
 
Best recorded his second goal of the game in that third period to put the Lakers up 5-2. Whittaker and Duszak picked up assists.
 
Hansen tallied the Pioneers' third power-play goal late in the third period.
 
The Lakers went 0-for-3 on the power play while the Pioneers were 3-for-5.
 
Mercyhurst freshman goaltender Colin DeAugustine saved 22 out of 25 shots he faced while Sacred Heart goaltender Magnus made 19 saves before Nathan Perry came in at the start of the third period and stopped nine shots. The Lakers had 33 shots on net.
 
The two teams will return to action on Saturday at 7:35 p.m.