WARRIORS SPLIT GAMES WITH MERCYHURST BEHIND PERFORMANCES FROM SAVEL, SPOGNARDI

ERIE, Pa. - The Warriors split games in their second and third installments against Mercyhurst University over the weekend, with the Warriors getting a 4-2 victory on Friday behind big performances on both sides of the ice. In the second game, RCU fell 4-2 to the Lakers. RCU's Cole Zalewski and Maxximus Savel lead on the offensive front, with Zalewski assisting Savel on two goals in the Warriors' victory, with Zalewski scoring the Warriors' two goals in the loss. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST GAME - RCU WINS 4-2

Both teams were lockdown in the first period, with RCU goalkeeper Nicholas Spognardi tallying five saves en route to a 36-save performance. The Lakers drew first with a goal at the 2:39 mark by Connor McCusker. 

The second period was a huge one for the Warriors, who scored their first goal thanks to Aidan Baker, who Griffin Hernalsteen found for the score. The Lakers regained the lead with a goal just 40 seconds later, but an ensuing power play gave the Warriors new life, as senior Kyle Banks tied the game just a minute later thanks to a setup from Zalewski and Kade Bacon. 

The Warriors sustained that offensive momentum heading into the third period, with Savel finding the back of the net at the 15:46 mark to give the Warriors their first lead of the game, assisted by Zalewski and Shaun Zatelli. Spognardi played some clutch minutes in goal, saving 11 shot attempts by the Lakers to keep the Warriors ahead. With five seconds remaining, Savel scored an empty-net goal to seal the Warrior win. 

SECOND GAME - MERCYHURST WINS 4-2

The Warriors seemed to keep the offensive success going to start the second game, with Zalewski scoring the game's first two goals in the first period, first scoring at the 14-minute mark off an assist by Connor Fredericks-Stebbins. Zalewski's next goal came in eight minutes later, when Bacon passed to the forward for the score. 

The Lakers quickly answered in the second period, scoring a goal just over 40 seconds in to cut the Warrior lead to one. The Lakers were finding success on offense, out-shooting the Warriors 18-7 in the period before scoring a game-tying goal with just over seven minutes remaining in the period. The third period continued to go the way of Mercyhurst, who scored two more goals, including an empty-netter to seal a 4-2 win. 

UP NEXT

RCU takes a break over Thanksgiving, next playing the Cleary Cougars on Dec. 6 at 140 Ice Den. Puck drop occurs at 8 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Jaya Forti - Forti's Photos