Erie, Pa. — It was the first game back on home ice in over a month for the Lakers as they hosted Air Force for game one on the weekend series. Despite their hard fought efforts, the Falcons beat the Lakers to the finish by a 5-2 score.
How It Happened
You could tell Mercyhurst was excited to be back at home with fast, fierce play between them and Air Force starting off the game. Shots fired off on both ends of the ice, but the Falcons ended up being the team able to strike first, six minutes in with Mason McCormick sliding one past goalie Simon Bucheler. The Lakers quickly woke up two minutes later and showed they were up to the task, able to comeback and tie it through senior Kyler Head for his first point on the season. It was a stunning long range effort from Head after a pinpoint pass from Jake Beaune.
Mercyhurst wasn't done there, scoring in quick succession only forty seconds later as Mickey Burns sunk the snipe this time around for a 2-1 lead. Will Margel was the driving force behind the goal, striping the Air Force offense to feed Burns. The Flacons bit back though, right at the end of the period as Clayton Cosentino found the net on a power play with a minute left.
A tie game heading into the second, the Mercyhurst defense was tested having to make big savers and blocks. Air Force eventually broke through and grabbed the lead a man down on fourteen minutes into the period. Their leader in points, Chris Hedden, claimed the goal. Despite a defensive effort with 10 saves and 8 blocks, the Lakers went into the final period of play down a goal at 3-2.
The third period ended up not being to dissimilar to the second, seeing Air Force score short-handed yet again only three minutes in, this time by Sam Brennan. Mercyhurst would pour the shots on goal but weren't able to get anything past Guy Blessing who was putting in a good shift in goal for the Falcons. The Lakers pulled the goalie with three minutes to go in an all out effort to get back on the board. Unfortunately, they ended up being met by another Falcons goal as Holt Oliphant hit the back of the empty net. It all wrapped up as a 5-2 final, leaving Mercyhurst looking to have to bounce back tomorrow afternoon.
Highlights
Kyler Head scored his 1st goal of the season, also counting as his 1st point on the year.
Mickey Burns snagged his 3rd goal on the season, giving him 6 points in total.
Philip Waugh led the defensive effort with 5 blocks.
Simon Bucheler made 22 saves on the night off of 26 shots.
Scoring Summary
P1: 8:10 - Kyler Head from Jake Beaune and Steven Agriogianis
P1: 8:47 - Mickey Burns from Will Margel
Next Up
The Lakers wrap up the series against Air Force tomorrow at 4:00 pm in their last game before Thanksgiving.
