THE BASICS:

Score: Mercyhurst 5, Holy Cross 4 (OT)
Records: Holy Cross (8-10-5, 7-5-5 AHC); Mercyhurst (12-7-3, 10-4-2 AHC)
Location: Erie, Pa. (Mercyhurst Ice Center)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015
Time: 7:05 p.m.            
The Lead: Tyler Shiplo scored the game-winner in overtime for the Lakers as the Holy Cross men's hockey team fell to Mercyhurst, 5-4, on Saturday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center in Atlantic Hockey action. Mercyhurst takes the two-game series as the Lakers won on Friday by a 2-1 score.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders took a 1-0 lead at 7:46 of the first period when freshman Scott Pooley (Granger, Ind.) scored his sixth goal of the season. Junior Castan Sommer (Shrewsbury, Mass.) blocked a shot sending Pooley on a breakaway as he then found the back of the net.
• Freshman Ryan Ferrill (Havertown, Pa.) increased the Holy Cross lead to 2-0 at 10:25 of the first period when he sent a backhander past Mercyhurst goalie Spencer Bacon after receiving a pass from junior Sean Gustin (Stoneham, Mass.). The goal was Ferrill's sixth of the year. Tim Driscoll (Hingham, Mass.) also posted an assist.
• Just 30 seconds later, Jonathan Charbonneau cut the Crusaders' lead to 2-1 with his fifth goal of the season.
• With 31 seconds left in the first period, Shiplo fired a slap shot for his second goal of the year to tie the contest at 2-2.
• Holy Cross outshot Mercyhurst, 10-7, while the Crusaders went 0-1 on the power play and the Lakers went 1-1.   
• The Crusaders took a 3-2 lead just 16 seconds after the opening face-off of the second period when junior Joe McNamara (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) blasted a slap shot for the power play goal. The goal was his second of the season. Sophomore Mike Barrett (Orland Park, Ill.) and junior Jake Bolton (Ellington, Conn.) each tallied an assist.
• Sommer increased the lead to 4-2 with a power play goal at 5:20 of the second period. The goal was his fourth of the year. Junior Karl Beckman (Okemos, Mich.) and Pooley each posted an assist.
• Kyle Just made it a 4-3 contest at 7:52 with Mercyhurst on the power play with his eighth goal of the year.
• Then with 45 seconds remaining in the second period, Matt Zay sent a pass from the side of the goal to a waiting Daniel Bahntge who sent a one timer to the upper corner of the net to tie the game at 4-4.
• Holy Cross outshot Mercyhurst by a 14-11 margin, while the Crusaders went 2-4 on the man-advantage and the Lakers went 1-1.
• With the Lakers on the power play at 12:41, Chris Bodo fired a shot that hit the post keeping the score tied at 4-4.
•  Neither team was able to take the lead in the third period as the contest went to overtime.
•  With 2:38 left in overtime, Sommer fired a shot that hit the post as the game remained tied.
• Then with 1:51 remaining Shiplo scored on a slap shot to give the Lakers the 5-4 overtime victory.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Holy Cross outshot Mercyhurst, 32-27.
• The Crusaders went 2-5 on the power play, while the Lakers went 2-3.
• Freshman goalie Paul Berrafato (Williamsville, N.Y.)recorded 22 saves, while Bacon posted 13 saves and Brandon Wildung made 15 saves for the Lakers.
• Sommer and Pooley each posted one goal and one assist for two points.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:

• Sommer was named the third star of the game, while Shiplo was the first star and Bahntge was the third star.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return to action on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23-24, when they host first-place Robert Morris at the Hart Center. Friday's contest is the SGA Game of the Week and is at 7:05 p.m., while Saturday's game is Price Chopper Kids' Day and is at 3:05 p.m. On Saturday, all kids aged 12 and under will be admitted for only $1.00 with the purchase of an adult ticket and a Price Chopper card.

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.