ERIE, Pa. – Cleveland State (4-7, 2-2) dropped Mercyhurst (1-9, 0-4) 13-10 on Saturday afternoon in NEC action.
Brennen Hickey converted on the first shot of the game off a feed from
Jacob Lubrant less than a minute into the contest. Four minutes later, Mercyhurst drew even with an unassisted goal.
Wyatt Robertson found the back of the net with 7:07 remaining to put the Green and White ahead by one, but the Lakers closed the quarter with four unanswered goals to lead 5-2.
Hickey again found the back of the net less than a minute into a quarter as Cleveland State closed to within two goals. Robertson then bagged his second of the game with 11:59 showing, and
Dylan Tomarchio tied the game at 5-5 off a pass from
Amiri Austin with 9:04 to go in the half.
The Lakers reclaimed the lead with 7:22 showing and remained in front, 6-5 at the intermission.
Cleveland State wasted no time tying the game back up as Austin scored just 51 seconds in off Lubrant's second helper. Robertson completed his hat-trick off a pass from
Alex Van Voorhis, reclaiming a 7-6 advantage. The Green and White defense blanked the home team for the remainder of the quarter as the game shifted to the fourth.
For the fourth time in the game, the Green and White struck under a minute into a new quarter, as Tomarchio recorded his second goal of the game off an Austin assist. Two minutes later,
Alex Van Voorhis found the back of the net to make it 9-6.
Hickey then completed his hat-trick off a pass from Austin to make it 10-6 with 9:54 left in regulation. Following a home team tally, Hickey found the back of the net for a fourth time to make it 11-7 with 7:39 to go.
The teams traded goals down the stretch, with the Vikings getting goals from
Alex Van Voorhis and Austin to win the road conference game, 13-10.
Robbie Stewart set a pair of game records, going 20-of-26 in the faceoff circle and picking up 15 ground balls.
Hickey's four goals were a career-best for the freshman, and Austin's four assists were also a career-best for the senior.
Justin Dalum made 12 saves in the victory.
The Green and White will take on another first-time opponent in LIU at home on Saturday, April 12, at 11 a.m.
