Erie, PA – The 18th-ranked Falcons rode a two-goal game from defenseman Tim Theocharidis to beat the Mercyhurst Lakers 3-1 Sunday.
Eric Dop started in net for the Falcons, stopping 23 of 24 shots faced. Hank Johnson saved 48 of 51 attempts for the Lakers.
First Period
Tim Theocharidis opened the game’s scoring at 16:14 of the first period. Max Johnson won a faceoff, getting the puck to T.J. Lloyd, who sent the puck to his partner Theocharidis. His slapshot from the blue line stayed low, beating a screened Johnson for his second goal of the season.
The Falcons challenged Johnson with 16 shots in the opening period while holding the Lakers to just five attempts.
Second Period
Theocharidis tallied his second goal of the game at 12:50 of the second period. Alex Barber dug the puck out of the corner, feeding it back to T.J. Lloyd. Lloyd sent the puck to Theocharidis who skated in on net, made Johnson go down for a save, and danced the puck around the goaltender before backhanding a shot past the goal line. The goal was Theocharidis’ third of the season.
The Lakers cut the Falcons’ lead to 2-1 at 17:30 of the second period. Noah Kane jumped on a rebound, blasting a shot past Dop his first collegiate goal.
Bowling Green had 18 shots in the second period while Mercyhurst had 11 chances.
Third Period
The Falcons scored their third goal at 17:56 of the third period. Taylor Schneider forced a turnover behind the Lakers’ net before finding Cam Wright in the slot. Wright buried the shot for his second goal of the season.
Bowling Green had 17 shots in the final period while Mercyhurst had nine attempts.
With the win, the Falcons improve to 4-1-0, while the Lakers fall to 1-1-0.
Bowling Green will play a nonleague, home-and-home series with Ferris State next weekend.
