BRIDGEPORT, Mass. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team's variety of goals lifted it over American International, 4-2, during Saturday's Atlantic Hockey matchup at the MassMutual Center. The Lakers scored goals in four different manners: even strength, power play, shorthanded and empty net.
 
Jack Riley recorded a goal and an assist while Derek Barach, Wes Baker and Kane Elliot added single goals for Mercyhurst (7-7-2, 4-4-2). Joseph Duszak had three assists while Bryan Sienerth, Jonathan Charbonneau and Nathan Bryer tallied one assist each.
 
Blake Christensen and Janis Jaks scored for AIC (6-11-2, 5-8-2).
 
One minute and fifty-six seconds into the first period, Barach scored his fifth goal of the season to give the Lakers an early lead.
 
The Yellow Jackets converted on their first power-play chance of the game at 5:17 of the first period. Christensen scored while Brennan Kapcheck and Jaks picked up assists.
 
Late in the first period, Riley scored his seventh goal of the season when he capitalized on the power play. Charbonneau and Duszak added assists as Mercyhurst took the lead for good.
 
Halfway through the second, Baker recorded his second goal of the season as he scored a shorthanded marker to extend the Lakers' lead to 3-1.
 
The Yellow Jackets pulled goalie Stefano Durante for an extra attacker and capitalized on it as Jaks scored to bring them back within one, 3-2. Martin Mellberg had an assist.  
 
AIC pulled its goalie again, but this time the Lakers took advantage of it. With 55 seconds left in the third, Elliot tipped in an empty netter with assistance from Duszak.
 
Winning goaltender Colin DeAugustine finished the game with 31 saves for Mercyhurst. Stefano Durante stopped 22 shots in net for AIC.
 
The Lakers went 1-for-5 on the power play while the Yellow Jackets went 1-for-6
 
The Lakers will back in action on Dec. 16-17 with a home-and-home series against Robert Morris. The teams will play at RMU on Saturday before returning to Erie on Sunday.