Oct. 27, 2007

Stats

Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst men's hockey team (0-5-1 overall, 0-1-1 AHA) rallied from a two-goal, third period deficit to tie visiting Holy Cross (2-1-1, 1-0-1), 2-2 in overtime, before 528 fans at the Ice Center.

After two scoreless periods in which each goaltender was spectacular in net, the Crusaders ended the dead-lock with a short-handed goal by Dewey Thomson just 1:39 into the final period. Holy Cross made it a two-goal contest when Mark Znutas lit the lamp three minutes later with the man advantage.

The Lakers got a key unassisted goal by Brett Robinson at the 7:18 mark as he scooped up a loose puck, skated behind the HC net, and beat Ian Dams glove-side. Mercyhurst tied the contest at the halfway mark as Ben Cottreau scored his third goal of the season on a brilliant one-timer from Scott Pitt between the circles.

Both teams had several opportunities on the power play as Mercyhurst ended 1-for-11 and Holy Cross was 1-for-7.

Robinson was named the game's first star while HC's Dams and Mercyhurst's Ryan Zapolski were second and third, respectively. Dams stopped 39 of 41 shots while Zapolski stopped 32 of 34.

Mercyhurst will hit the road for three very difficult stretches. The Lakers visit last season's Atlantic Hockey conference champion, Air Force, on Nov. 2-3 at 9:35 p.m. EST both nights. Then Mercyhurst travels to East Lansing, Mich., to take on the reigning NCAA Division I champion Spartans for a two-game set on Nov. 9-10 at 7:05 p.m. Mercyhurst ends the road trip visiting last season's AHA regular season champion, RIT, on Nov. 16-17 at 7:05 p.m.