ERIE, PA – Walker Sommer scored the game-winning goal in Niagara’s come-from-behind 3-2 win over Mercyhurst Monday night. The win advances the Purple Eagles to the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals, where they will take on No. 1 Robert Morris in a best-of-three series.
1st Period
• Mercyhurst took advantage of an odd bounce early in the first period to score the game’s opening marker.
• The Purple Eagles would have plenty of chances in the period to even the score, recording 22 shots, nine of which found the target.
• The Lakers won nine of the opening periods 15 faceoffs and put four shots on goal.
2nd Period
• Mercyhurst made it a 2-0 game as Carson Briere found the back of the net after his initial shot from the high slot was redirected.
• Ludwig Stenlund answered on the power-play, cutting the Laker lead in half, 2-1. Croix Evingson and Justin Kendall earned the primary and secondary assists, respectively.
• Less than four minutes later, Ryan Cox made it 2-2 on a redirect in front off a Brandon Stanley shot.
• Mercyhurst would go on a power-play late in the second; however, the Niagara special teams unit successfully killed the Laker chance.
3rd Period
• Sommer scored the game-winning goal with 4:07 remaining in the third period. Zac Herrmann and Stenlund were credited with the assists.
• Chad Veltri stood on his head throughout the third period, making 16 of his 29 saves in the final stanza.
• Mercyhurst pulled their goalie in the final moments of the third to send the game to overtime, however, the Niagara defense stayed stout to hold onto the win.
Game Notes
• Monday night’s contest marked the 100th career game for redshirt senior Jack Billings.
• For the third time under head coach Jason Lammers, Niagara will advance to the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinal.
• This season, the Purple Eagles are 4-4-0 when scoring a power-play goal.
• Cox’s goal was his team-leading seventh of the season.
• Three of Stenlund’s six goals on the season have come against Mercyhurst.
• The Purple Eagles finished the game with 35 shots on goal, 27 faceoff wins, and 12 blocked shots.
Up Next
• Niagara will take on Robert Morris in the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. The best-of-three series will take place March 12-14 in Pittsburgh, Pa, with each contest set to start at 7 p.m.
