BRIDGEPORT, Conn.— The Sacred Heart men's ice hockey was unable to come back from an early 3-0 deficit, falling to Mercyhurst, 5-3 in the series opener on Friday night at Webster Bank Arena.

The Lakers (6-8, 6-5 AHC) got off to an early lead as Taylor Best fired one past sophomore goaltender Brett Magnus in the slot to take the 1-0 lead. Mercyhurst held the Pioneers (5-10-2, 3-8 AHC) to just six shots in the first. Mercyhurst added a goal by Kane Elliot on the two-on-one breakaway at 4:23 in the second. Wes Barker followed that up at 8:09 on the feed from Stephen Hrehoriak to take the 3-0 lead.

Pioneers responded as Nick Lotito rolled one in past a diving Colin DeAugustine on a scrum in front of the net at 10:03 for the power play goal. SHU followed that up with senior Evan Jasper added his fourth power play goal of the season on the assists from Zach Tsekos and Justin Danforth at 16:14 in the second. The Lakers cut the Pioneers rally short just 42 seconds later on a goal by Josh Lammon that knuckled through Magnus' legs to make the score 4-2. Mercyhust added its fifth goal courtesy of Best as he fired one in the right circle past junior Nathan Perry.  Senior Coltyn Hansen picked up his first goal of the season on the lead pass from Jeff Carroll at 19:31 to bring the final score to 5-3. 

Mercyhurst outshot Sacred Heart 33-25 overall, including 11-6 in the first period to take the early lead. The Pioneers went 3-for-5 on the power play, while the SHU penalty kill held the Lakers 0-for-3 on the man advantage. Magnus recorded 19 saves, while Perry recorded nine saves in the third for the Pioneers. DeAugustine recorded 22 in goal for Mercyhurst.

The Pioneers wrap weekend series with the Lakers, tomorrow December 10 at 7:35pm in the third annual Jason Pagni Memorial Game at Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut. 

First Period

- Pioneers recorded three shots on the power play opportunity in the end of the first period. Including a rifle by Justin Danforth in the slot that was knocked down by DeAugustine at 17:05.

- SHU was outshot 11 to six through the first 20 minutes.

Second Period

- Magnus made a strong blocker save at 8:25 in the second.

- The Pioneers go two-for-two on the power play in the second. On Lotito's second goal of the season and Jasper's fourth power play goal.

- Senior defenseman Erlich Doerksen led the Pioneers with four shots in the second period.

Third Period

- Perry recorded nine saves in the third period, including a stop on the breakaway from Wes Barker early in the period.

- SHU recorded four shots on the power play in the third period, finishing with 11 total on the advantage.

- Hansen recorded his first goal since December 12, 2015 at Army.