| GAME 4 |
| SCORE |
Mercyhurst Lakers 3, Niagara Purple Eagles 3
(Mercyhurst wins shootout, 2-1) |
| SCORERS |
Mercyhurst – C. Briere (1st – 6:58), J. Bendorf (1st – 17:12), Q. Wichers (3rd – 7:49) | Niagara – M. Cameron (2nd – 3:17), L. Stendlund (3rd – 10:49), W. Sommer (3rd – 18:31) |
| GOALIES |
Mercyhurst – Hank Johnson (1-3-1) | Niagara - Chad Veltri (0-1-2) |
| RECORDS |
Mercyhurst (1-3-1, 0-0-1 AHA) | Niagara (1-1-2, 0-1-2 AHA) |
| LOCATION |
Mercyhurst Ice Center |
ERIE, Pa. – The Niagara Purple Eagles rallied to force overtime with two goals in the third period to tie the Mercyhurst Lakers, 3-3, on Wednesday night. The Lakers won the shootout, 2-1, to earn the bonus point.
SYNOPSIS
The Purple Eagles netted twice in the third period, including with 1:29 remaining, to tie the game at 3-3. Trailing 3-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period,
Ludwig Stenlund scored three minutes after the Lakers made it a two-goal game. Niagara pulled the goalie in the final two minutes and the extra-man paid off as
Walker Sommer connected on a one-timer to tie the game.
Mercyhurst had a few good chances to win in overtime, but the score ended in a 3-3 tie to setup another shootout for the Purple Eagles.
Ryan Cox opened the shootout with a goal, but NU failed to score on its next two attempts which left the door open for the Lakers' Carson Briere who tied the shootout in the third round. Mercyhurst scored in the next round to win the shootout.
The host jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first period. However, the Purple Eagles peppered the Lakers goal, outshooting Mercyhurst 17-7, in the second period, and eventually scored on a goal by
Matt Cameron.
MOMENTS
1
st Period
- 6:58 - Mercyhurst is rewarded for controlling the start of the game with goal seven minutes in scored by Carson Briere.
- 17:12 – Two minutes after killing a Niagara power play, the Lakers made it 2-0 when Jonathan Bendorf won the puck in NU's defensive zone.
2
nd period
- 3:17 - Defense leads to offense. Josef Mysak checks an oncoming Lakers forward to win the puck and then plays Matt Cameron who beats the goalie for Niagara's first goal of the game.
3
rd period
- Niagara kills off a power play to start the period.
- 7:50 - Mercyhurst nets its third goal off a deflection against the run of play.
- 10:49 - Ludwig Stenlund notches his second goal of the season, following up on a rebound on a shot by
- 18:31 - Walker Sommers scores on a one-timer on a centering pass from Eric Cooley.
Overtime
- End to end action in the overtime period.
- Mercyhurst had two point-blank chances in the final minute.
Shootout
- Ryan Cox opens the shootout with a goal.
- Mercyhurst scores in the third and fourth round to win the shootout.
EAGLE'S EYE ON…
- Ludwig Stenlund scored his team-leading second goal of the season. He now has 30 career goals.
- Eric Cooley provided two assists on the two third period goals for a team-high two points.
- Walker Sommer scored his first goal of the season.
- Freshman Matt Cameron scored his first career goal in his second career game.
- Freshman Josef Mysak picked up the first point of his career with his assist on Cameron's goal.
- Croix Evingson has a team-high three assists on the season after his assist on Stenlund's goal.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- This was Niagara's second overtime and shootout game in four games this season.
- The draw snaps a six-game win streak versus Mercyhurst.
- Niagara had a season-high in shots on goal (41) and shots (77).
UP NEXT
- The Purple Eagles continue the home-and-home series with Mercyhurst on Friday, December 18 at 7 p.m.
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