ERIE, Pa. – Men's ice hockey completed its sweep of Mercyhurst, winning Saturday evening's matchup at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, 5-3. With the win, Holy Cross moves to 14-11-4 (9-9-3 Atlantic Hockey), while Mercyhurst falls to 7-15-3 (5-9-3 Atlantic Hockey).
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Mercyhurst took the 1-0 lead at the 8:57 mark of the opening frame.
• Sophomore Mack Oliphant tied the game at one apiece with a scorcher of a shot from the slot. Freshman Jack Stockfish pushed the puck ahead on the breakout from the defensive zone, finding sophomore Matt DeBoer streaking down the ice. DeBoer skated the puck in before finding Oliphant at the far point. Oliphant's initial shot was blocked by a Mercyhurst defender, though he was able to pick up the rebound, skate around the Mercyhurst goal, and find a lane for the equalizer with 5:34 to play in the first.
• Picking up a bad pass by the Mercyhurst netminder, freshman Ty Gagno picked up the free puck, finding senior Alec Cicero along the boards. Cicero sent a shot towards the goal, which junior John Gelatt was able to redirect into the corner of the net to give the Crusaders the 2-1 lead in the second.
• Senior Jack Ricketts picked up his first of the game just over four minutes into the third period on a beautiful passing pattern off a breakout play after a turnover in the defensive zone. Catching the Lakers on a three-on-two in transition, sophomore Jack Seymour skated the puck to the red line before sending a backhanded pass to junior Liam McLinskey on the right side. McLinskey carried the puck to the offensive zone faceoff dot before sending a leading cross ice pass to Ricketts for the easy tap in goal.
• Mercyhurst quickly erased the Crusaders lead, tallying goals at the 13:44 and 11:40 marks of the period.
• After drawing a couple of penalties, the Crusaders found themselves on the 5v3. Ricketts wasted no time on the advantage, Ricketts sent a one-timer into the back of the net 29 seconds into the power play.
• The Lakers pulled their goalie in favor of the extra attacker with 1:58 remaining in the period. Forcing the turnover in the defensive zone, senior Tyler Ghirardosi carried the puck up the ice before finding Ricketts for the empty net goal.

 
BEYOND THE BOX:

• Ricketts' hat trick was the first of his career, and the first time a Crusader has scored a hat trick in a single period since T.J. Moore completed the feat at Niagara on Oct. 8, 2016.
• The Crusaders went a perfect six-for-six on the penalty kill this weekend.
• Junior Thomas Gale finished the weekend with 51 saves on 56 shots.

 
UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross will host Air Force for a two-game set on Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Hart Center Rink.
• Friday's game is the team's Salute to Service game, while the team will retire alumni Patrick Rissmillers' jersey prior to Saturday's matchup. For more information about the two games, please visit goholycross.com/promotions.

 
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