WORCESTER, Mass. — The Mercyhurst men's ice hockey team lost to the College of the Holy Cross, 4–1, at Hart Center Rink on Saturday. Despite a strong performance by the Laker goalie,
Charles-Edward Gravel, who made 31 saves, the team couldn't overcome two empty-net goals by Holy Cross in the third period.
Mercyhurst began the first period with
Ryan Coughlin winning the opening faceoff, setting the tone for early possession. The Lakers generated multiple opportunities but could not capitalize, as shots by
John Larkin and
Trent Sambrook were either blocked or saved by Holy Cross's goaltender. A power play at 15:36 provided additional chances, but the Crusaders' defense held firm.
Holy Cross managed to find the back of the net at 8:47. Despite continued efforts from the Lakers to equalize, including a power play opportunity after a penalty on Michael Abgrall, the period ended with Mercyhurst trailing 1–0.
Mercyhurst took the lead early in the second period with a goal from
Francesco Iasenza with 15:51 remaining. This marked Iasenza's first career goal and he was assisted by
Tyler DesRochers and
Andrew LeBlanc. This goal marked a significant momentum shift for the Green and Blue as they gained the advantage. Despite facing pressure from Holy Cross, including several missed shots and a power-play opportunity, Mercyhurst's defense, backstopped by Gravel, held firm and maintained the lead.
As the period progressed, the Lakers looked to capitalize on a power-play chance after a major penalty was assessed to Holy Cross. Although they did not convert, they kept the pressure high with multiple attempts at the Crusader's net. The period concluded with Mercyhurst maintaining their one-goal lead, holding the score at 1–1.
Mercyhurst opened the third period with momentum, winning the initial faceoff and applying pressure with shots from A. LeBlanc and
Christian Kocsis, though both were blocked. As the period progressed, DesRochers and
Lukas Klemm faced penalties, resulting in power plays for Holy Cross. During these stretches, the Lakers' defense, backed by Gravel's goaltending, held off multiple shot attempts.
Midway through the period, Holy Cross broke through with a goal, extending their lead. Mercyhurst continued to press, with
Dominik Bartecko hitting the pipe, but couldn't find the net. In the final minutes, Holy Cross secured the victory with two empty-net goals. The period concluded with Holy Cross leading 4–1.
Iasenza scored one goal, providing a key contribution to the team's offense. DesRochers added an assist and registered three shots, demonstrating his involvement in the playmaking efforts.
Sean James excelled in faceoffs, winning all his attempts for a 100 percent success rate. Gravel made 31 saves, showcasing his defensive capabilities in the net. A. LeBlanc's assist puts him second on the Laker leaderboard in assists.
The Lakers will not play again until the new year, when they travel to face North Dakota on January 2nd.
