Troy, N.Y.—The Mercyhurst Men's hockey team closed out their first road trip of the season with a 3-2 overtime loss to RPI.
How it Happened
Neither team scored a goal in the first period for the first 17 minutes. However, at the 17:44 mark of the opening period RPI scored to make it 1-0.
The Lakers didn't wait long to respond. Less than a minute later Mercyhurst tied the game at one. With both teams down a man Carson Briere made a couple dipsy-doddle dekes and backhanded it to Cade Townend who was cutting to the net. Townend one timed it as he fell to the ice to tie the game at one. Owen Norton earned the secondary assist on the play.
After the first period, the Lakers and RPI were tied at one while RPI held a slight lead in shots 12-11.
In the second period Mercyhurst started to control play a bit more, but RPI was the only one to strike in the period. At the 12:03 mark RPI scored an unassisted goal to take the lead back.
Despite the scoreboard the Lakers dominated the scoresheet by outshooting the Engineers 20-12. They also won 13 of 22 faceoffs.
After killing off a couple penalties in the beginning of the period the Lakers still trailed until the 14:08 mark of the period. Mickey Burns took a pass from Brendon Michaelian and skated through the RPI defenders and took a shot. The shot missed the net but the puck bounced back to Burns and he fed it to Keanan Stewart. Stewart took a quick shot that beat the netminder to make it 2-2.
At the 3:25 mark Adrien Bisson took a long shot from the right point, the shot made it through the traffic and goalie but rang off the crossbar.
60 minutes of play wasn't enough for the teams as they were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation. Shots were 39-33 Mercyhurst as overtime started.
After the Lakers won the opening faceoff the Lakers lost possession. RPI went 2-1 on Matt Lenz, he made two saves but the third shot from RPI ended the game to give them the 3-2 win.
Lenz made his first collegiate start on Saturday and turned in 33 saves for the Lakers.
By the Numbers
The Lakers killed off all four RPI power plays while also blocking 12 shots. They notched 39 shots on goal which is a season high, it is their most shots since they defeated Miami (OH) on the road on Jan. 4, 2022. Lenz's 33 saves is a career high as he entered the game with 28 saves in his career.
Up Next
Mercyhurst travels back to Western Pennsylvania as they play a home and home series with Penn State. The Lakers travel to Happy Valley on Thursday before traveling Erie on Friday.
