USAF Academy, Co. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Men's Ice Hockey team fell short in a 4-1 defeat against Air Force in an Atlantic Hockey matchup on Saturday night. The Lakers showed resilience, cutting the deficit to one goal in the third period, but late tallies by the Falcons sealed the game. 

How It Happened: 

Air Force struck first late in the opening period, with Brendan Gibbons finding the back of the net at 15:08, assisted by Clayton Cosentino and Beau Janzig. The Falcons carried their 1-0 lead into the second period, as both teams battled defensively to keep the score unchanged. 

Early in the third period, Clayton Cosentino doubled Air Force's lead at 00:31, scoring what would be the game-winning goal. Mercyhurst responded midway through the period with a power-play goal from Dominik Bartecko at 13:22, assisted by Riley Fitzgerald and Caleb Price, cutting the Falcons' lead to 2-1. However, Air Force regained momentum with a power-play goal from Will Staring at 15:06 and capped off the night with an empty-net goal by Austin Schwartz at 16:46. 

Notable Performances: 

• Dominik Bartecko scored his second goal of the season on the power play. 

• Riley Fitzgerald and Caleb Price each recorded assists on the Lakers' lone goal. 

• Goaltender Carter McPhail made 31 saves, keeping the Lakers within striking distance for much of the game. 

Up Next: 

Mercyhurst will return to home ice next weekend to host Canisius in another Atlantic Hockey series. Puck drop is scheduled for Friday night at 7 PM.