ERIE, Pennsylvania - The American International College ice hockey team fell 6-3 to Mercyhurst University to close out the four-game Atlantic Hockey Association season series against the Lakers on Saturday, February 19.

FAST FACTS:
Final Score: Mercyhurst 6, RV AIC 3
Records: The Yellow Jackets drop to 17-12-2 on the season with a 16-7-1-0-0-2 AHA mark; the Lakers rise to 10-18-4 overall and 8-12-4-1-0-1 in AHA play
Location: Mercyhurst Ice Center, Erie, Pennsylvania

KEY STATS:
Mercyhurst:
Pierce Crawford: Two goals, 10-for-15 on faceoffs
Dante Sheriff: One goal, one assist
Rylee St. Onge: Two assists
Jake Beaune: One goal
Geoff Kitt: One goal
Marko Reifenberger: One goal
Kyle McClellan: Win (6-12-2), 40 saves

AIC:
Blake Bennett: Two goals
Chris Dodero: One goal
Elijiah Barriga: One assist, 12-for-19 on faceoffs
Alec Calvaruso: Loss (6-4-0), 16 saves in 53:46
Jarrett Fiske: Three saves on three shots in 2:09

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• AIC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead as Zak Galambos pounced on a rebound to keep possession in the attacking end. He slid the puck to the right side for Blake Bennett, who ripped home his 10th of the season at 7:05.
• AIC's lead doubled just past the midpoint of the frame. Breaking out of the zone after a turnover at the blueline, Brian Kramer, Chris Dodero, and Justin Cole moved in on a three-on-one. Cole fired a shot from the right side, and Dodero was there to slam the rebound into the net for his 10th of the season at 11:33.
• Mercyhurst turned the game on its head as Pierce Crawford scored two goals in a 16-second span less than a minute later.
• Jake Beaune put the Lakers ahead at 7:11 of the second period on a shot from the low slot.
• AIC's power play converted to tie the game up just after the midpoint of the game, as Justin Young and Elijiah Barriga battled to keep the puck in before Barriga found Bennett at the right circle for his 11th of the year at 10:46.
• Marko Reifenberger notched a late goal, giving the Lakers a 4-3 lead heading into the third.
• Geoff Kitt and Dante Sheriff scored in the third for the 6-3 final.

NEXT UP:

• The Yellow Jackets close the regular season at home as Niagara University comes to town for two games.
• The contests at the MassMutual Center will be Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26. Both are slated for 1:05 p.m.
• Tickets for the game are available at www.aicyellowjackets.com/hockeytickets.