ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst men's hockey team defeated Niagara, 3-2, during Atlantic Hockey action on Friday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
 
Taylor Best, Derek Barach and Joseph Duszak scored goals for Mercyhurst (9-10-2, 6-7-2) while Bryan Sienerth had two assists and Kane Elliot and Zach Todd each had one assist.
 
Nick Farmer and Zach Mills scored for Niagara (10-11-2, 9-6-2).
 
After a scoreless first period, Best scored his sixth goal of the season to put the Lakers on the board first. Elliot picked up an assist.
 
Midway through the second period, Barach scored his sixth goal of the season to extend the Lakers' lead to 2-0. Sienerth tallied an assist.
 
Niagara got on the board with a goal from Farmer at 12:07. Chris Harpur added an assist.
 
Early in the third period, Duszak scored his fourth goal of the season to give the Lakers their two-goal lead back. Sienerth and Todd had assists.
 
Mills brought the Purple Eagles back within one, but it wasn't enough. The Lakers held on to win 3-2. Nic Mucci and Kris Spriggs had assists on Niagara's second goal.
 
The Lakers finished 0-for-2 on the power play while the Purple Eagles were 0-for-4.
 
Brandon Wildung stopped 32 out of 34 shots on net for the Mercyhurst while Brian Wilson stopped 30 out of 33 shots for Niagara.
 
Both teams are back in action Saturday at 7:05 p.m.