Fairfield, Ct. — The Lakers kicked 2024 off in grand fashion with a big display both offensively and defensively. They beat Sacred Heart University by a score of 7-2 on the road, which included a huge 8 penalty kills throughout the contest as well.
How It Happened
This one got underway to a wild start, with massive, massive, emphasis on the wild. It all started 4:30 in with the Lakers able to jump out in front via a Will Margel goal on the right side of the net from Mickey Bruns, who snagged it in the neutral zone to turn it over and fed Margel. Only two minutes later the Pioneers went on a power play, their first of many in the period, and weren't able to crack through the Mercyhurst defense. More penalties poured on only a minute later with the game turning into a 4v4. 20 seconds into the mutual penalty period Mercyhurst was able to capitalize yet again this time Mickey Burns got himself on the score sheet on a breakaway with Garrett Dahm poke checking it of the defender's stick on the assist.
The game continued to get more and more scrappy, eventually turning into a 3v5 in favor of Sacred Heart just under two minutes after the Lakers solidified their two goal lead. To make matters worse, Mercyhurst would be without defender Dustin Geregach for the rest of the match after a game misconduct, meaning they wouldn't be back to full strength until there were two minutes left on the clock in the period. Mercyhurst was able to make through the first two minute penalty, brining it back to a 5v4. 40 seconds later they miraculously went on the break away again on a 2 on 1 where Marko Reifenberger linked up with Spencer Smith, who rifled it to the back of the net for his first career goal at the collegiate level, sweetening the achievement by doing it short-handed.
The Lakers continued to sustain large periods of pressure from Sacred Heart with a big task ahead, having another six minutes to go down a man. Shot after shot, save after save, they got closer and closer to killing the biggest penalty of the night. They saw 12 shots faced without producing a shot themselves in that six minutes, putting on one of the best defensive displays and greatest penalty kills ever seen. Mercyhurst spent a total of 9:30 undermanned in the period and accumulated a total of twenty-three minutes across all of their penalties within the twenty minute span, amazingly coming out of all of that with a dominant 3-0 lead. On paper it may seem made up or magic, but all credit goes to the Laker defensive line and another masterful Owen Say performance that displayed 19 saves alone in the first period.
Mercyhurst got going quickly in the start of the second period too, but Chase Clark was able to make some big saves this time, stoping a couple of breakaways. The Lakers continued to be penalty kill beasts, getting another two within the first eleven minutes of the period. Sacred Heart's frustrated offense finally woke up right after the second penalty kill as Marcus Joughin tucked one away to bring one back. Almost immediately the Pioneers struck again after a flurry of shots and a dogpile near the Laker net with Chikara Hanzawa claiming the goal this time. All of a sudden Mercyhurst found themselves with a game on their hands at a 3-2 scoreline and the goals coming just 38 seconds apart for Sacred Heart. In the closing seconds of the period, the Lakers were able to reestablish some breathing room again with Garrett Dahm netting it from the right circle with help from Philip Waugh and Trent Sambrook. It headed to the final period 4-2 in favor of Mercyhurst.
In the final period of play the Lakers were able to reestablish control of the game, proving so by scoring four minutes in on a power play in their favor this time. Sambrook claimed the goal after letting it rip, bar down into the net after a pass from Kyler Head back to the middle of the attacking zone. Sambrook eventually went on the double in the fourteenth minute after sniping one in again, this time from the left side of the net; Barrett Brooks and Dahm linked up to produce the goal. If the nail wasn't in the coffin already for Sacred Heart, Boris Skalos ended up hammering it down, stripping it all the way from the defensive zone to take it home as he joined in on the scoring action two minutes later. The Pioneers just weren't able to get enough going in the close of the game, being outshot by the Lakers 13-6 in the final period. The game closed at a massive 7-2 score in favor of the team from Erie.
Highlights
Will Margel scored his 3rd goal of the season.
Mickey Burns picked up his 4th goal and 10th assist.
Spencer Smith scored his first career goal, it coming short-handed.
Garrett Dahm netted his 3rd goal and added 2 assists to bring him to 10 on the season.
Trent Sambrook sunk 2 goals to bring him to 3 total on the year and picked up his 5th assist.
Brois Skalos netted his team leading 9th goal.
Marko Reifenberger and Philip Waugh both added their 4th assists on the season.
Kyler Head picked up his 7th assist this year.
Barrett Brooks tallied his first career point with an assist tonight.
Owen Say had 37 saves on 39 shots.
Scoring Summary
P1: 4:27 - Will Margel from Mickey Bruns
P1: 8:50 - Mickey Burns from Garrett Dahm
P1: 12:31 (SHG) - Spencer Smith from Marko Reifenberger
P2: 19:47 - Garrett Dahm from Philip Waugh and Trent Sambrook
P3: 4:25 (PP) - Trent Sambrook from Kyler Head
P3: 14:13 - Trent Sambrook from Barrett Brooks and Garrett Dahm
P3: 16:29 - Boris Skalos unassisted
Next Up
Mercyhurst will be back at it tomorrow, looking to repeat their success from tonight. Puck drop is a 3:00pm as they go for the sweep.
