Holy Cross sophomore forward Greg Kealey scored three goals, two within a 2:17 span late in the third period, as the Crusaders rallied for a 5-5 overtime tie with Mercyhurst before nearly 600 fans Friday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
The Lakers are now 2-3-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, while Holy Cross is 2-1-1, 1-0-1 in the young season. Mercyhurst is now 6-1-1 all-time against Holy Cross.
Mercyhurst never trailed in the game, but simply could not put the Crusaders away. Freshman forward David Wrigley (his third) put Mercyhurst on the board first with a power-play goal at 4:57 of the first period.
After Kealey scored a power-play goal of his own at 7:44 to tie the game, Mercyhurst sophomore forwards Adam Tackaberry and Peter Rynshoven scored at even strength to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead after a period.
The even-strength tallies doubled the total number of five-on-five scores Mercyhurst had in its first five games combined. The Crusaders outshot Mercyhurst 14-10 in the opening 20 minutes.
Holy Cross rallied to tie the game in the second period, getting a pair of goals from sophomore forward Jeff Dams, at 2:19 and at 17:20 on the power play. The Crusaders again outshot Mercyhurst 13-9.
The Lakers appeared to have things in hand in the third period. Despite failing to convert a 5-on-3 for 1:18 early in the period, junior forward P.J. Hiscock scored even-strength and freshman defenseman Mike Kirby tallied shorthanded within a two-minute span to put Mercyhurst ahead 5-3.
But Kealey completed his hat trick, scoring a power-play goal at 17:04 and, with the Crusader net empty for an extra skater, getting the equalizer with only 38.7 seconds left.
Mercyhurst dominated the overtime, outshooting Holy Cross 4-1, but could not get another one by Crusader senior goaltender Derek Cunha.
Mercyhurst senior goalie Peter Aubry stopped 33 of 38 Holy Cross shots, while Cunha saved 27 of 32. The Lakers were penalized 13 times for 26 minutes while Holy Cross was assessed 10 penalties for 20 minutes.
The Crusaders were 3 of 11 on the power play and allowed a shorthanded goal while Mercyhurst was 1 of 7 with the man-advantage.
Holy Cross will continue its western trip with a game at Canisius Saturday, while the Lakers will host Bentley at the Ice Center.
