ERIE, Pa. – Joseph Duszak recorded his first collegiate hat trick as the Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team defeated Holy Cross 4-3 on Friday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
 
Duszak also had an assist while James Anderson recorded the other Laker goal and tallied an assist. Derek Barach and Jonny Lazarus picked up two assists while Jeremy Wu recorded one assist for Mercyhurst (9-10-2, 7-5-1). Lazarus' assists weere credited as his first career points for Mercyhurst.
 
Michael Laffin, Matt Slick and Conner Jean scored for Holy Cross (2-12-2, 2-8-1).
 
After a scoreless first period, Laffin got the Crusaders on the board first with a power play goal, assisted by Anthony Vincent and Neil Robinson.
 
The Lakers then scored two power play goals to take a 2-1 lead. Barach passed the puck up to Anderson who found the back of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Duszak also had an assist. Barach then slid the puck up to Duszak who picked up his first goal of the night off a wrist shot. Anderson also had a helper.
 
Late in the second period, Slick tied the game at 2-2 with assists from Ryan Leibold and Jack Surowiec.
 
During the third period, Holy Cross took a 3-2 lead when Jean scored with help from Johnny Coughlin.
 
Duszak then scored two goals to finish off his hat trick and lead the Lakers' to their 4-3 win. Wu and Lazarus tallied assists.
 
Winning goaltender Garrett Metcalf made 35 saves in net while Erik Gordon stopped 17 shots.
 
Mercyhurst finished 2-for-4 on the power play while Holy Cross went 1-for-4.
 
Both teams are back in action Saturday at 7:05 p.m. 
 
Tickets can be purchased online HERE.
 
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Highlights and interviews after tonight's 4-3 win over Holy Cross. pic.twitter.com/LalrBozlwW

— Mercyhurst Hockey (@HurstMensHockey) January 5, 2019