MTU splits with Mercyhurst

MTU's Taggart Desmet, Friday night's first star

Michigan Tech was 1-0 for the first time in four years, but they were unable to stay undefeated too long as Mercyhurst evened the score the next night. It was the first series of the year for both teams, and both started with a Division I opponent. Mercyhurst (predicted the winner of the AHA) started the scoring both nights, but were only able to hold on for one of those games.

Friday

MTU was lead by senior forwards Taggart Desmet and Chris Conner Friday as they prevailed 4-3 over the visiting Lakers. Conner scored the second goal of the game, the first for MTU, when he flaunted his speed and came in alone on the Laker goalie. He was assisted by Desmet and freshman Justin St. Louis. The Lakers struck back before the end of the first and took a 2-1 advantage into the second.

The second was dominated by MTU, in fact all three goals of the period were scored by the Huskies. The first two by Desmet and the third and final one from Nick Anderson.

In the third the Lakers were able to get one goal, but that was it. Michael Teslak, one of MTU's freshman goalies, looked very good on his way to his first win with 41 saves.

Saturday

MTU started slow and allowed Mercyhurst to get out to an early 2-0 lead. It was late in the period before Brandon Schwartz tipped home a shot by Geoff Kinrade. This was the only offense that MTU could create in the first period.

The fans saw a better MTU team in the second but Tech could only get one goal in the second, it was a shorthanded goal and it was Mike Botavanja that buried it.

Tech entered the third down 3-2 and could not get anything going. Mercyhurst was able to capitalize on a few miscues and ended the game with a 5-2 score.

Rob Nolan, the other of the two freshmen goalies, got the start and looked good at times, but had a few lapses and let a couple soft goals in.

MTU now heads to the Nye Classic in Anchorage and will face two teams from out east, Vermont Friday and RPI Saturday.