Feb. 2, 2007

Stats

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Mercyhurst stretched its winning streak to three games by grounding the Air Force 7-5 Friday night in an Atlantic Hockey Assoiciation game at the Cadet Ice Arena. The Lakers improved to 7-16-5 overall and to 7-12-3 in the conference. The Falcons dropped to 13-11-5 nd 10-6-5.

Sophomore defenseman Kirk Medernach's first career goal at 5:33 of the third proved decisive. The Lakers got goals from seven different skaters: Matt Warren, Cody Collins, Ryan Toomey, Kyle Gourgon, Matt Pierce, Medernach, and Ben Cottreau. Cottreau's power play goal at 17:45 of the third capped the scoring.

Despite being outshot 17-8 in the first period, the Lakers took a 2-0 lead into the dressing room thanks to goals by Warren, his 4th of the season at 4:56, and Collins, his 5th of the campaign, at 17:42.

Air Force scored three times in the first ten minutes of the second period before the Lakers returned the favor in a five-minute stretch later in the frame. Andrew Ramsey (15), Jay Medenwaldt (1) and Josh Frider (6) were the snipers for the Falcons while Toomey (pp,9), Gourgon (10), and Pierce (8) restored the Lakers' two-goal lead. Mercyhurst had only six shots in the second as the Falcons owned a substantial 23-6 margin in the middle period.

Medernach increased the Lakers' lead to 6-3 early in the third before the Falcons fought back again thanks to a pair of markers from Jeff Hajner (7pp, 8) at 12:30 and 16:24. But Cottreau thwarted the comeback with his team-leading 14th of the year at 17:45. The Falcons pulled their goaltender in the game's last two minutes to no avail. Air Force outshot Mercyhurst 15-10 in the finale and 55-24 for the sixty minutes.

Senior Jordan Wakefield improved to 4-8-2 this season by turning aside 50 shots. Ben Worker (3-3-1), who held the Lakers in check in a 3-1 Air Force win January 6 at the Ice Center, played the first three quarters of the game while Andrew Volkening wrapped up.

Gourgon and Toomey led the Lakers with a goal and three helpers as Mercyhurst posted its first-ever win over the Falcons in three tries.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Saturday night at 9:05 eastern time.