Feb. 8, 2008

Stats

Erie, Pa. -

GALLERY

The Mercyhurst men's hockey team remained hot as the Lakers defeated visiting Air Force, 3-1. The win was Mercyhurst's third straight and are now 5-1-3 in its last nine games. Mercyhurst improved to 10-14-5 overall, 10-6-5 in Atlantic Hockey, while the Falcons dropped to 13-11-5 and 10-9-4, respectively.

Mercyhurst scored first at the seven-and-a-half minute mark of the opening period as freshman Dan Bremner lit the lamp, assisted by freshman Brandon Coccimiglio.

Air Force tied the game in the second period on a goal by Scott Kozlak, assisted by Sean Bertsch and Matt Charbonneau.

The Lakers scored twice in the third period, with a power-play marker at the 14-minute mark by Coccimiglio, assisted by Mike Gurtler and Matt Fennell. Junior Matt Pierce sealed the win with an empty-net, short-handed goal with 16 seconds remaining.

Air Force outshot Mercyhurst, 38-22. Junior Matt Lundin, the game's number one star, made 37 saves, while AFA's Andrew Volkening stopped 19.

Mercyhurst was 2-for-4 on the power play while Air Force was 0-for-4.

Mercyhurst now leads the all-time series, 4-3, and won on home ice against the Falcons for the first time.

With the win, Mercyhurst is tied with next weekend's opponent, Sacred Heart, for third place with 25 points. With Army's victory over Holy Cross, the Black Knights are tied for first with idle RIT, who plays a home-and-home series against Canisius on Saturday and Sunday. Both Army and RIT have 26 points.

Mercyhurst and Air Force will conclude the weekend series with a Saturday evening contest at 7:05 p.m.