Box Score The Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team held off Niagara to claim a 3-2 victory during Atlantic Hockey play on Friday in front of 1562 fans at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
 
Sophomore Wes Baker had a goal and an assist while senior Stephen Hrehoriak and junior Zach Todd had one goal apiece. Senior Kyle Dutra, redshirt-junior Jack Riley, junior Patrick Piacentini and sophomores Josh Lammon and Jeremy Wu had assists for Mercyhurst (10-13-3, 10-9-3).
 
Vinny Muto and Nick Farmer scored for Niagara (3-20-3, 3-15-2).
 
Todd got the Lakers on the board first when he sent a rocket from the blue line and found the back of the net during the first period. Dutra and Lammon tallied assists. Lammon passed the puck to Dutra who skated behind the net and to the point. At the point, he passed it over to Todd, who sent the puck to the back of the net.
 
During the second period, Muto scored on the power play for Niagara and tied the game at 1-1.
 
Baker scored on a breakaway opportunity to put the Lakers back in the lead at 2-1. Riley assisted the goal. Piacentini got possession of the puck for the Lakers and tapped it  to Riley, who passed the puck up to Baker who was breaking away. Baker took advantage of it and scored.
 
Hrehoriak battled for the puck from the blue line towards the goal and won possession to beat Niagara goaltender Jackson Teichroeb and make it 3-1. Baker and Wu picked up assists.
 
Farmer scored late in the third period to bring the Purple Eagles within one and make the score 3-2.
 
Junior goaltender Brandon Wildung saved 19 out of 21 shots on net for the Lakers while Jackson Teichroeb stopped 24 out of 27 shots.
 
The Lakers were 0-for-5 on the power play while the Purple Eagles went 1-for-4.
 
Both teams are back in action on Saturday at Niagara. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.