THE BASICS:

Score: Mercyhurst 2, Holy Cross 1
Records: Holy Cross (8-9-5, 7-4-5 AHC); Mercyhurst (11-7-3, 9-4-2 AHC)
Location: Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Ice Center)
Date: Friday, Jan. 16, 2015
Time: 7:05 p.m.            
The Lead:  Kyle Just and Kyle Cook each scored a goal for the Lakers as the Holy Cross men's hockey team fell to Mercyhurst, 2-1, on Friday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center in Atlantic Hockey action. These two teams will conclude their two-game series on Saturday in Erie at 7:05 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first period went scoreless as Crusader freshman goalie Paul Berrafato (Williamsville, N.Y.) and Mercyhurst's Spencer Bacon each made 10 saves. With just 16 seconds left in the period, Matt Zay fired a shot that hit the post keeping Mercyhurst off the scoreboard. The Crusaders went 0-1 on the power play.
• The Lakers went on a power play at 5:08 of the second period taking three straight shots, but Berrafato kept the puck out of the net including on a diving save off a shot by Ryan Misiak.
• Just gave the Crusaders a 1-0 lead when he scored on a slap shot at 12:32 of the second period.
• Mercyhurst outshot Holy Cross by a 14-10 margin in the period, while the Lakers went 0-3 on the man-advantage.
• At 5:05 of the third period, Cook made it a 2-0 contest when he scored a power play goal off a rebound from a shot by Anthony Mastrodicasa.
• The Crusaders cut the Mercyhurst lead to 2-1 with 3:32 left in the third when junior Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) fired a slap shot for the power play goal. Sophomores Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) and Brett McKinnon (Kelowna, British Columbia) each posted an assist.  
• The Crusaders went with an empty net with 1:35 remaining but were unable to score the equalizer for the 2-1 final score.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross outshot Mercyhurst, 32-30.
• The Crusaders went 1-2 on the power play, while the Lakers went 1-4.
• Berrafato recorded 28 saves, while Bacon posted 31 saves for the Lakers.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Bolton's goal was his sixth of the season. His six goals are tied for fifth all-time in a season by a defenseman on the program's Division I list. His 14 points this season lead the team.
• The Crusader defense held the Lakers to two goals on the night. Mercyhurst entered the game averaging 3.40 goals per game which ranked second in the league and eighth nationally.
• Berrafato was named the second star of the game, while Bacon was the first star and Cook was the third star.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they take on Mercyhurst in Erie at 7:05 p.m. 

BE PART OF THE ACTION THIS SEASON:

• To purchase tickets for the 2014-2015 Holy Cross men's hockey season go to GoHolyCross.com/Tickets or call (508) 793-2573. 

KEEP CONNECTED:

• There are numerous ways to stay connected with the Holy Cross men's hockey team. Follow the Crusaders on Twitter @HCrossMHockey and on Facebook. You can also get the latest news and results on the team sent directly to your e-mail. To sign up for e-mail alerts go here: http://www.goholycross.com/list-signup.