Feb. 24, 2006

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst jumped on Army for three first period goals and went on from there to defeat the Black Knights 6-2 Friday night before 400 fans at the Ice Cernter. The win, coupled with first-place Holy Cross' 4-3 overtime loss at home to Sacred Heart, created a logjam at the top of Atlantic Hockey with three regular season games left. The Crusaders, 17-6-2 in the conference, have 36 points, one more than second-place Mercyhurst and two better than the third-place Pioneers. Mercyhurst and Army will conclude their weekend series Saturday while Holy Cross must travel to Sacred Heart for the finale of their home-and-home set.

Mercyhurst, which scored a combined two goals at Army in early January in absorbing 5-0 and 3-2 overtime setbacks, wasted little time in getting to Army senior goaltender, Brad Roberts. Freshman winger Matt Pierce scored his third of the year at even strength at 2:32. Junior forward Scott Champagne followed with a power play tally, his 14th goal of the year, at 6:26 and junior forward Kyle Gourgon completed the first-period scoring with a shorthanded marker, his 12th of the season, at 9:11. Army, thanks in part to a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:39 in the opening session, outshot Mercyhurst 12-11.

The Lakers put the game away by notching three of five goals in the middle period. Sophomore forward Ben Cottreau tallied his 15th on a power play at 3:55, senior Dave Borrelli scored his 25th at 6:47 and senior Scott Reynolds lit the lamp for the 12th time this season with another Mercyhurst extra-man goal at 12:06. Army scored twice with the man advantage in the period. Luke Flickek cut the lead to 4-1 at 4:47 and Aaron Anderson scored the final goal of the period - and the game - at 15:26. Mercyhurst outshot the Black Knights 19-10 in the period.

Army freshman goalie Josh Kassel from Greensburg, Pa made his collegiate debut in the third and turned aside five shots. Mercyhurst freshman Tyler Small improved his record to 11-4-1 overall and to 9-4-1 in the conference.

Mercyhurst outshot Army 35-27 and converted 3 of 6 power plays. Army converted 2 of 9 opportunities with the man advantage. Referee Jim Troup's right arm was busy most of the night. Troup assessed 23 minor penalties in the game, 13 to the Lakers.

Mercyhurst improved to 19-11-1 overall and to 17-7-1 in Atlantic Hockey while Army dropped to 10-16-6 and 8-11-6.