Erie, Pa. — The Lakers hosted Holy Cross in the first of a two game set and were ultimately were defeated in a 5-2 game, despite both sides producing similar numbers in terms of shots, saves, and face-offs.

How It Happened
The game got off to a hot start with the Lakers going on a power play only 18 seconds in, but a goal didn't come until the Crusaders went on a power play of their own. Holy cross grabbed the opening goal 28 seconds into their advantage, Jack Ricketts slid it down low from the left hand side of the goal. He, Jack Stockfish, and Matt Shatsky had a nice period of passing in the Mercyhurst half in the lead up. Despite the Lakers getting more shots off on goal to finish the period, the Crusaders were the ones able to garb another before the intermission. Ricketts claimed his second, breaking down the ice with Jack Seymour and Liam McLinskey before squaring it up on the right side of the goal to smash it in the blink of the eye. It headed to the second period a 2-0 Holy Cross game.

Mercyhurst got close to pulling one back in minute twelve, as Keanan Stewart flashed one across goal to Jake Beaune. It looked like he slotted it in to right of the keeper, but the Holy Cross bench wasn't convinced, leading the referees to review, confirming a save from Crusaders goalie Thomas Gale. Not even five minutes later, Holy Cross added another to their lead. The puck pinballed around the Laker net until Joe Solimine controlled it to hit Lucas Thorne for a rifle in the back of the net. Mercyhurst got their redemption at the end of the period with three minutes left on the clock. 

Dustin Geregach and Steven Agriogianis' slick passing found Philip Waugh open on the right side of the attacking zone for him to hit a slap shot in the back of the net. It's Waugh's first goal since December 8th and 9th of the season. Two minutes later they doubled their scoring towards the close of the period. A great defensive effort saw Jake Beaune slide the puck to Garrett Dahm who broke away down the ice to the other net for a shot that bounced off Gale's pads, to which Beaune was there for the follow up to bury it in the top of the net. It's Beaune's 1st goal of the season and 3rd career, seeing Mercyhurst go into the final period just one goal down at 3-2.

It was a less than ideal start in the third period, with a strong comeback scent in the air for the Lakers. Five minutes in the Crusaders regained a two goal lead through McLinskey. It wasn't too dissimilar to Beaune's goal, Shatsky threw the puck down the ice with McLinskey crossing up Say to slide it in for a 4-2 lead. The game came to a tense standstill until the final minute when Mercyhurst went empty net in attempts to bring it back, but Stockfish grabbed a late goal on the opportunity from the neutral zone, finishing at 5-2 in favor of Holy Cross.

Highlights
Philip Waugh scored his 9th goal of the season.
Jake Beaune grabbed his 1st goal on the year.
Agriogians collected his team leading 14th assist of the season.
Dustin Geregach and Garrett Dahm each picked up their 12th assist.
Owen Say had 22 saves on 26 shots faced.

Scoring Summary
P2: 16:56 - Philip Waugh from Steven Agriogianis and Dustin Geregach

P2: 18:52 - Jake Beaune from Garrett Dahm

Next Up
The two sides meet back in the Mercyhurst Ice Center tomorrow evening with puck drop set for 5:00 pm, with the home side looking to bounce back.