Easing into league play this weekend within the AHA made sure we didn’t go home disappointed. Here’s three reasons why, with a little help from my favorite Irish rockers, U2:<\/p>\n
Mercyhurst: “Even Better Than the Real Thing” Let’s run down how the Mercyhurst season has gone to date. First, it started with the Lakers entering the season as the prohibitive league favorite, returning almost all the key ingredients from a squad that baked up a spot in the league title game. Their reputation took a hit through the most brutal non-conference stretch of games we’d seen in a while that saw them start 1-5-1. While there was a thought that Mercyhurst would eventually gel, there was this lingering tension that the Lakers weren’t, maybe, who we thought they were.<\/p>\n Then they smoked Air Force.<\/p>\n Leading 3-1 late in the first, Mercyhurst allowed the Falcons to score late, leading by one after twenty minutes. Then they scored five unanswered goals to crush the visiting service academy, 8-2. It was a loud statement from a team that needed one, highlighted by Matthew Zay’s 1-2-3 night. Daniel O’Donoghue and Ryan Misiak each scored twice, Kyle Dutra added two assists, and Randy Cure and Nick Jones both finished with an absurd +4 on the defensive end. And Jack Riley collected his first collegiate point, which drew the following tweet from his dad (and Army head coach) Brian Riley:<\/p>\n Congrats to @Jack_Riley29<\/a> on getting his first point tonight against Air Force. #betteragainstthemthanus<\/a> #proud<\/a><\/p>\n
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