Box Score

Erie, Pa. – The American International College men's ice hockey team lost Friday night, 7-2, in the first game of their weekend double-header with the Mercyhurst Lakers. With the loss the Yellow Jackets fall to 2-15-1 on the season and to 2-11-0 in Atlantic Hockey, while the Lakers improve to 10-11-2 overall and to 10-5-2 in the conference.

Mercyhurst scored six times before AIC got on the board. Junior Brandon Coccimiglio (Burlington, Ont.) netted three goals, while senior Neil Graham (Calgray, Alb.), freshman Paul Chiasson (Toronto, Ont.), and junior Steve Cameron (Mission, B.C.) each tallied a goal.

Sophomore #Michael Penny# (Calgary, Alb.) put the Yellow Jackets on the board scoring at 3:26 of the third period with assists from juniors #Mike Little# (Enfield, Conn.) and #Greg Vatrano# (East Longmeadow, Mass.). Junior Mike Gurtler (Rochester, N.Y.) gave the Lakers their seventh goal of the night. Freshman #Charles LaChance# (Quebec City, Que.) netted AIC's second goal of the night late in the final period with assists from sophomore #Rob Blanchette# (South Boston, Mass.) and freshman #Steve Mele# (Bronx, N.Y.).

Junior #Dan Ramirez# (Rochester, N.Y.) made 21 saves on the night for the Yellow Jackets, before being replaced by freshman #Ben Meisner# (Halifax, N.S.), who made three stops of his own. Junior Ryan Zapolski (Erie, Pa.) stopped 33 shots in the win for Mercyhurst.

AIC outshot the Lakers 35-31 and 16-11 in the second period.

Next up, the Yellow Jackets look to rebound tomorrow night in the finale of the weekend double-header at Mercyhurst. Puck drops at 7:05 p.m.