Buffalo, N.Y. — Mercyhurst's first leg of the home and home series against Canisius ended in dramatic fashion. The Lakers came back from a 3-0 deficit to send it to what turned out be a shootout win for them, coming away with the extra point over Canisius.

How It Happened
The game started with the Lakers sustaining a series of shots from the Golden Griffins, with Owen Say making 5 big saves early on. Mercyhurst had their own stint of threatening on the attack, forcing Canisius goalie David Fessenden to make 5 saves of his own inside five minutes. The teams with matching records coming into the night showed it on the ice, being evenly matched throughout the first period. The Lakers had the edge on face-offs and Canisius had it on shots, but neither defense was willing to budge, sending it to the second still knotted at 0-0.

In the second period, the action kicked off. The deadlock came to an end two minutes in when Canisius's Grant Porter snuck one in on a traffic jam near goal, with help after Cooper Harr threw it in the area. The goal was Porter's 2nd on the season. Mercyhurst would go on to press for more shots on goal before Canisius struck again on a power play through leading scorer Matteo Giampa, hitting the top right of the net for his 10th. Just about over a minute later they extended their lead to 3 with Cody Schiavon hitting a long range effort, his 2nd on the year. 

The Lakers didn't go out quietly in the period though, Will Margel and Mickey Burns were able to connect on a nice linkup, helping Margel score his 1st of the season and first ever Laker goal. Burns threaded one through two defenders before Margel flung it to the right side of the net. The comeback was on. Margel's goal energized the boys as they got off seven shots in the last minute, ending the second period hungry for more at 3-1

Mercyhurst's comeback bid was in full effect in the third period. It showed when Steven Agriogianis brought the game within one on his 4th goal of the season. Kyler Head was crucial in manufacturing the goal, striping it from the Golden Griffins defense and getting it to Agriogianis who had the goalie confused on a hesitation shot in the bottom left of the goal. The game changer came in the tenth minute. After a won face-off in the defensive end, Burns and Margel to tore down the ice on a breakaway, combining for the second time on night to tie the game. Margel hit his own long-range effort to put him on a double for the night. Both teams traded stretches of consistent attack again with neither able to breakthrough before regulation wrapped.

The story of overtime was the man in the Laker net, Owen Say. Free flowing, 3v3 hockey had both teams on the verge of finding the back of the net. Mercyhurst got close in the third minute as Margel danced around the defense with the puck before queueing up a shot Fessenden was able to stop this time around. Shortly after, Canisius found themselves on two quick breakaways with hopes to end it right there, but not before Say had his say. He smothered all three shots on goal from the Golden Griffins that period, with only a shootout left to determine the winner.

Canisius had the first attempt, which Say was able to stop with his right leg. Agriogianis was next to shoot, but couldn't hit the hesitation shot this time for the lead. Canisius' next shot was an easy save right down the middle for the Mercyhurst goalie. Then it came to Margel, who skated right up to goal and faked out the keeper before hitting a backhand into the top of the net as he played hero yet again on the night for a 1-0 lead. The Golden Griffins were down to their last hope, but again was no problem for Say with a shot dead center, helping him remain perfect in shootouts this year. Mercyhurst came away with the extra point on the night heading back to Erie for game two tomorrow night.

Highlights

Will Margel scored his first 2 goals of the season and his Laker career. 

Steven Agriogianis netted his 4th on the year.

Mickey Burns had two assists on the night, bringing his total to 6. 

Garrett Dahm, Kyler Head, and Jake Beaune all tallied one assist on the night.

Owen Say had 35 saves on 38 shots.

Scoring Summary

P2: 18:32 - Will Margel from Mickey Burns and Garrett Dahm

P3: 2:36 - Steven Agriogianis from Kyler Head

P3: 10:48 - Will Margel from Mickey Burns and Jake Beaune

Next Up
The home and home series against Canisius wraps up tomorrow night, Saturday, December 2nd at 7:00 pm at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.