Troy, N.Y.—The Mercyhurst Men's Hockey team went on the road for the first time this season as they face ECAC foe RPI. Despite a late comeback attempt the Lakers fell 6-3.
How it Happened
RPI got going very early in the game as they scored just 34 seconds into the game. The Engineers engineered a two goal lead just over two and a half minutes later as they scored again to make it 2-0.
The Lakers answered back at the 7:20 mark of the first. Philip Waugh made a breakout pass to Carson Briere, Briere fed it across to Rylee St. Onge. St. Onge redirected the puck with his skate and after lengthy review the goal stood to make it 2-1.
At the 14:44 mark, RPI scored again to make it 3-1. After the opening 20 minutes of the game shots were tied but the Engineers had a 3-1 lead.
In the second period RPI scored at the 8:55 mark of the period which marked the end of the night for goaltender Tyler Harmon, Matt Lenz made his season debut.
RPI scored their fifth goal of the game just under six minutes later to make it 5-1.
Mercyhurst went into the locker room down four as they were being outshot by just two, 21-19.
Just over eight minutes into the third period the Lakers started to claw back. The RPI goalie decided to play the puck and held on to it a little too long. Kyler Head snuck up behind him and stole puck and netted his first goal of the season.
Less than five minutes later, Waugh took a shot from the point that snuck its way through traffic. The puck found the net for the first of Waugh's career, Mickey Burns and Keanan Stewart picked up assists on the play.
The Mercyhurst comeback attempt came to an end in the last minute of play as RPI scored an empty netter.
By the Numbers
Lenz came into the game and made 20 saves which is a career high for the sophomore. The RPI power play went 2-3 on the night with seven shots. The Mercyhurst power play generated four shots on their lone power play. Waugh is the second Laker this season to scored his first career goal joining Garrett Dahm who scored his first career goal in the season opener. Waugh also notched his first multi point game of his career.
Up Next
The Lakers and Engineers are back at it tomorrow at 7 PM in Troy. Mercyhurst then comes back to western Pennsylvania for a home and home series against Penn State on Thursday.
