Setting the Stage
The Mercyhurst men's hockey team will host Rochester Institute of Technology on Tuesday January 16 for an Atlantic Hockey matchup. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
 
Last Time Out
Mercyhurst welcomed Niagara University when they swept the weekend, winning 3-2 both nights.
 
Brendan Riley had two goals while Jack Riley, Taylor Best, Derek Barach and Joseph Duszak each scored one goal for Mercyhurst.
 
Previous Matchup
Last season Mercyhurst and RIT matched up twice and RIT took both games. On Nov. 23 the Tigers defeated the Lakers 4-3. Myles Powell scored two goals for RIT while Adam Brubacher and Erik Brown each recorded one goal. Les Lancaster, Michael Verboom and Nathan Ferriero each scored one goal for Mercyhurst.
 
During their next matchup, RIT took down Mercyhurst 7-1. Abbott Girduckis scored two goals for the Tigers while Shawn Cameron, Matt Abt, Ryan Kruper and Powell each had one goal. Matthew Whittaker scored the Lakers' lone goal.
 
All Time Series
RIT holds a 39-20-6 all-time series advantage over Mercyhurst, including an 8-2-0 margin in the last 10 contests.
 
Scouting RIT
The Tigers are coming into the weekend with an 8-10-1, 7-6-0 record.
 
RIT is coming out of a weekend series with Air Force, when they dropped both games, 2-1 and 4-0.
 
Myles Powell is leading the RIT roster with 21 points. Close behind with 19 points is Gabe Valenzuela. Erik Brown is next with 18 points. Brown is also ranked 13th in the nation with 0.60 goals per game.
 
Logan Drackett has spent the most time in net with a 6-6-1 record. He has put forth a 3.38 goals against average and .875 save percentage. Also between the pipes is Christian Short with a 2-4-0 record. He has earned a 3.03 GAA and .890 save percentage.
 
RIT is ranked 29th in the nation on the power play with 19.7 percent and 36th in the nation on the penalty kill with 80.4 percent.
 
Mercyhurst Record
Mercyhurst comes into the game with a 10-10-2, 7-7-2 record.
 
Laker Leaders
Taylor Best is leading the Lakers roster with 18 points. Derek Barach is next with 17 points. Jack Riley and Jonathan Charbonneau are close behind with 16 points each.
 
Between the Pipes
Brandon Wildung has put up a 3.02 GAA and .913 save percentage with an 8-8-2 record. Colin DeAugustine has earned an 1-1-0 record with a 2.91 GAA and .896 save percentage.
 
Laker Firsts
Brendan Riley scored his first collegiate goal during the Lakers 3-2 win over Niagara on Saturday.
 
Special Teams
The Lakers are 22.4 percent on the power play, falling one spot to 12th in the nation. They move up seven spots to 34th in the nation on the penalty kill with 80.4 percent.
 
Players to Watch
For Mercyhurst
Brendan Riley scored two goals for Mercyhurst this past weekend, including the tying and game winning goal on Saturday.
 
For RIT
Powell recorded three goals and started off the scoring for RIT in both games against Mercyhurst last season.
 
Next Up
Mercyhurst will welcome American International College to the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Jan. 19-20.
 
Follow the Action
WATCH
Game Statistics 

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