ERIE, Pa. - Freshman defenseman
Joseph Maziarz scored his third goal of the campaign on the power play early in the third period, but it would not be enough as the visitng Sacred Heart Pioneers scored twice in the middle frame and added one in the third to down the Lakers 3-1 in Atlantic Hockey Association action at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday night.
Sacred Heart carried the play in the opening period as they fired 13 shots towards redshirt-senior
Garrett Metcalf who was equal to the task turning away each opportunity. He was not to be outdone by his counterpart at the other end of the rink Josh Benson as he knocked aside the five attempts he needed to.
The Pioneers hit the scoreboard first in the game at the 5:33 mark when a Lakers turnover just outside of their defensive zone landed on the stick of Jordan Kaplan who walked right down the slot and danced around Metcalf to slot home the 1-0 lead. They would add on ten minutes later as Matt Tugnutt tipped a pass to Jason Cotton who found Mike Lee who rocketed one home from the top of the left circle to make it 2-0 through 40.
Mercyhurst gave themselves life early in the third as they took advantage of a too many men on the ice penalty when
James Anderson and
Gueorgui Feduolov set Maziarz who hammered it home from the top of the point trimming the deficit to 2-1 still with 18:26 to go.
Unfortunately, the visitors answered back a little over six minutes later when Braeden Tuck fumbled the puck off his stick, but hung with it and stuffed it back under Metcalf for the 3-1 lead. The Lakers would pull the goalie late and apply some pressure, however, they could not get another one past Benson as the game came to an end.
Metcalf turned away 32 shots of the 35 he faced. Maziarz picked up point number 7, while Anderson and Feduolov got their 12th and 7th points respectively.
Benson made 13 saves to earn the win for the Pioneers.
The same two teams are back at it tomorrow afternoon Saturday, January 11 at 5:05 inside the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
