Oct. 27, 2006

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst broke open a tight game with a pair of late first period goals and went on from there to defeat visiting Connecticut 6-2 Friday night at the Ice Center. The Lakers, winners of two straight, improved to 2-3 overall and to 2-1 in the Atlantic Hockey Association. The Huskies dropped to 0-5 and 0-3 respectively and tied the program's worst start in history set 45 years ago.

With the Lakers clinging to a 1-0 lead thanks to sophomore forward Matt Pierce's fourth goal of the season at 5:50 of the first, freshman winger Nick Vandenbeld nailed his first collegiate marker at 18:36 and junior forward Ben Cottreau notched his fifth of the year 40 seconds later for a 3-0 advantage. The Lakers had a slight 7-6 advantage in shots.

Connecticut got on the board and gained some early second period momentum when senior forward Trevor Stewart scored on a shorthanded breakaway just 64 seconds into the middle frame. But the Lakers scored three more succcessive goals against Huskies' freshman netminder Beau Erickson to stretch the lead to 6-1. Freshman forward Chris Risi collected his second of the season at 5:58, senior forward Scott Champagne scored his first of the year at 13:28, and senior captain Kyle Gourgon blasted one by Erickson at 17:45. UConn finished the scoring when sophomore forward Chris Myhro found the back of the net with less than a minute to play in the second.

There was no scoring in the third period.

Connecticut sophomore Jon Anderson, who replaced Erickson late in the second period, shut down the Mercyhurst attack for the final 22 minutes. Anderson made a dozen stops. Mercyhurst sophomore Tyler Small, who made his fifth straight start in the young season, went all the way to pick up his second win. Small was credited with 34 saves as the Huskies owned a 36-27 advantage in shots. Both teams were blanked on their power play. The Lakers finished 0 for 8 while UConn was scoreless in nine tries.

Champagne led the offense with three points while freshman forward Cody Collins and sophomore defenseman Bobby Phillips joined Vandenbeld, Risi and Gourgon with two apiece,

Mercyhurst improved to 21-5-1 lifetime against the Huskies. The two teams will conclude the weekend series Saturday night at 7.