ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team suffered a 2-1 loss to the Rochester Institute of Technology in game one of an Atlantic Hockey Tournament quarterfinal series. The contest was played in front of 1,753 fans at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday.

Anthony Mastrodicasa scored the Lakers' goal, which tied the contest with 9:58 remaining in the third period, but RIT's Liam Kerins put in his second goal of the game with 4:08 remaining and the visiting TIgers (15-14-6) held on from there.

Laker goaltender Adam Carlson made a number of key saves to keep the contest at a scoreless tie before Kerins gave RIT the lead with 1:27 left in the second.

Mastrodicasa eventually answered for the Lakers, putting home a slapper during a 4-on-3 power play. Jack Riley and Patrick Piacentini made assists on the play.

Kerins had the game-winner after forcing a turnover behind the Mercyhurst net and scoring an unassisted goal during 4-on-4 play.

Carlson finished with 29 stops for Mercyhurst (17-14-4) while Mike Rotolo totaled 21 saves for the Tigers.

RIT outshot Mercyhurst, 31-22. The Tigers were 0-for-4 on the power play while the Lakers went 1-for-6.

The teams will meet again on Saturday in game two of the quarterfinal series. Mercyhurst needs a win to force a third game.