ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team dropped a 3-2 decision to Ferris State in game one of the the Snowtown Throwdown on Friday in front of 895 fans.
 
Matthew Whittaker and Patrick Piacentini scored goals for Mercyhurst (0-1-2) while Jack Riley, Les Lancaster, Joseph Duszak and Michael Verboom added assists.
 
Dominic Lutz scored two goals for Ferris State (2-3-0) while Mitch Maloney scored one goal.
 
The Lakers got on the board first 7:33 into the first period on the power-play, when Whittaker scored his first goal of the season. Riley and Lancaster had assists.
 
Ferris State came back with two goals to take the lead, 2-1. The Bulldogs' first goal was scored by Maloney on the power play while the second goal was scored by Lutz.
 
During the second period, Piacentini scored his first goal of the season at 1:31 the tie the game at 2-2. The tying goal was assisted by Duszak and Verboom.
 
Lutz netted his second goal of the game to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead, which ultimately forged the game's final score.
 
Mercyhurst goaltender Brandon Wildung stopped 36 out of 39 shots on net while Darren Smith saved 28 out of 30 shots for Ferris State.
 
The Lakers went 1-for-2 on the power play while the Bulldogs went 1-for-3.
 
Both teams are back in action for the second game of the Snowtown Throwdown on Saturday at 2:35 p.m.