Feb. 16, 2008

Stats

Milford, Ct. - Sacred Heart scored four third period goals Saturday night to overcome Mercyhurst 6-3 and gain a split of their weekend series. The Lakers dropped to 11-16-5 overall and 11-8-5 in Atlantic Hockey while the Pioneers improved to 13-14-3 and 13-8-3.

After a scoreless first period, one in which Sacred Heart enjoyed a 12-8 advantage in shots, Mercyhurst freshman forward Dan Bremner put the Lakers ahead less than a minute into the middle frame when he beat Sacred Heart goaltender Stefan Drew (13-11-1). Bremner's fourth of the season, even strength, was assisted by Neil Graham and Jamie Coghlan. The score remained that way until late in the second when the Pioneers' top two scorers, junior Bear Trapp and senior Alexandre Parent, went to work against the Lakers and junior netminder Matt Lundin (9-9-4). Trapp's 11th of the year came, even strength, at 16:44 while Parents' 12th was scored on a power play at 18:53. Sacred Heart took 13 of the period's 24 shots on goal.

The teams combined for six goals in a wide-open third period, including four power play and a shorthanded. The Pioneers widened the advantage to 3-1 at 4:11 when sophomore Erik Boisvert converted a power play opportunity. But Mercyhurst answered quickly at 6:53 when junior Matt Pierce lit the lamp on a Mercyhurst power play chance. Pierce's 7th goal of the year, and 2nd with the man advantage, was assisted by Scott Pitt and Matt Fennell. Three minutes later, SHU sophomore Nick Johnson restored the two-goal advantage with his 10th of the campaign. Parent made it 5-2 at 13:48 when he scored the Pioneers' second shorthanded goal of the weekend. Fennell answered with the team's second power play goal of the period, with help from Ben Cottreau, at 15:20. SHU junior Kyle Tyll closed the scoring with an empty net power play goal at 18:49.

Sacred Heart outshot Mercyhurst 38 to 34 and converted 3 of 7 power plays. The Lakers finished 2 of 9. The teams were whistled for 26 penalties that totaled 58 minutes. The Pioneers were assessed 15 of those for 33.

Sacred Heart won the season series 2-1-1 and now leads the all-time series 16-11-3.

The loss dropped the Lakers to fourth place in the conference, one point ahead of fifth-place Air Force and one point behind third-place RIT whom the Lakers will host next Friday and Saturday at the Ice Center.