The Mercyhurst Lakers remained unbeaten in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Hockey League with a 3-2 win over visiting Fairfield Friday night, January 18, at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Mercyhurst is now 12-7-2 overall and 11-0-2 in the conference. Fairfield fell to 4-13-2 and 2-9-2 respectively.
The teams scored three times within a three-and-a-half minute span of the first period. Mercyhurst freshman defenseman T.J. Kemp got his fourth of the year from junior forwards Marty Rychley and P.J. Hiscock, at 7:34.
Fairfield retaliated quickly as freshman forward Lyon Porter found the back of the net at 7:53. Porter’s third of the season was assisted by freshman defenseman Eamon Delgiacco and sophomore forward Hunter Greeley.
Laker sophomore forward Peter Rynshoven then scored at 11:05 to give Mercyhurst a lead it would never relinquish. Rynshoven’s sixth of the year was helped by junior defenseman Mark Chambers and sophomore forward Adam Tackaberry.
Mercyhurst got what proved to be the game winner when junior defenseman Mike Muldoon scored on a power play at 17:59 of the second. Senior forward Louis Goulet and sophomore forward Mike Carter were credited with the assists.
The Stags refused to fold, however, as Porter got his second of the game and fourth of the season at 5:38 of the third. Porter’s goal was assisted by Greeley. Both teams had good scoring opportunities the rest of the way, but couldn’t capitalize. Fairfield pulled freshman goaltender Michael Wolfe for an extra attacker in the game’s last minutes, but the Lakers and sophomore netminder Matt Cifelli closed the door.
Mercyhurst outshot Fairfield 26-25 and was one of four on the power play. The Stags failed in three man advantages.
Cifelli improved his record to 3-2-1 on the year while Wolfe dropped to 1-6-1. Mercyhurst is now 8-0-0 lifetime against Fairfield, including a 2-0 mark this season. The two teams will play again Saturday night at 7:00pm at the Ice Center to conclude the two-game set.
