ERIE, Pa. – Men's ice hockey defeated Mercyhurst, 5-2, Friday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. With the win, Holy Cross moves to 13-11-4 (8-9-3 Atlantic Hockey), while Mercyhurst moves to 7-14-3 (5-8-3 Atlantic Hockey).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Crusaders got on the board first with a power play goal by senior Jack Ricketts 4:29 into the opening frame. Ricketts sent a pass down to freshman Jack Stockfish next to the post, who sent a one-time bump pass back to Ricketts floating towards the net for the quick one-time goal.
• Ricketts extended the Crusaders' lead with 1:39 remaining in the frame. Sophomore Jack Seymour sent a pass to Ricketts across the net which Ricketts one-timed into the net before the Lakers' netminder could make it across the goal.
• Skating in his 100^th game, senior Lucas Thorne extended the Crusader lead to 3-0 halfway through the second period. Thorne batted the Mercyhurst clear attempt out of thin air to keep it in the Crusaders' offensive zone. Sophomore Joe Solimine, battling multiple defenders against the boards, found Thorne wide open at the faceoff dot for the one-time wrist shot.
• Mercyhurst cut the Holy Cross lead to 3-2 before the end of the middle frame, netting goals at the 3:04 and 1:08 marks of the period.
• Junior Liam McLinskey scored the Crusaders' fourth goal of the night on a breakaway created by a perfectly placed stretch pass by junior Matt Shatsky. McLinskey carried the puck at speed to the net, faking a shot that the Lakers' netminder bit on, before making a quick move around the goaltender sprawled out on the ice for the easy tap into the open net.
• Mercyhurst pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker with 1:09 remaining in the contest. Forcing a turnover in the defensive zone, Stockfish carried the puck to the red line before sending a shot into the empty net to put the game on ice.

 
BEYOND THE BOX:

• Junior Thomas Gale recorded 23 saves in the win, while the Lakers' Owen Say tallied 22 in the loss.
• Nine different Crusaders recorded a point, with Shatsky leading the way with three points on three assists.
• Seniors Lucas Thorne and Jake Higgins skated in their 100^th career game tonight.

 
UP NEXT:

• The two teams will face off again tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 27 at 5 p.m.

 
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