The Findlay Oilers scored twice late in the third period to snap a 2-2 tie and defeat the Mercyhurst Lakers 4-2 in the opening game of the 2001-02 season for both teams.
The Lakers scored shorthanded early in the first period (2:33) as sophomore right wing Mike Carter scored from senior Brad Olsen on a Mercyhurst two-on-one. But the Oilers scored on the same power play, getting the tying goal from freshman winger Rigel Shaw at 3:31.
Findlay took the lead with about six minutes left in the period on a goal by junior right wing Jason Maxwell. The Oilers outshot the Lakers 13-8 in the opening twenty minutes.
The second period was scoreless as both teams wasted two-man-advantages. The Oilers enjoyed a 5-on-3 for 1:42 early in the period while the Lakers had a two-man advantage for 1:22.
Mercyhurst tied the game at 9:42 of the third on the first goal of the season by junior winger Adam Rivers who connected on a goal mouth scramble.
But the Oilers refused to wilt before a crowd of nearly 900 as senior defenseman Brant Somerville scored what proved to be the game-winner at 14:36.
Sophomore winger Aaron Weegar completed the scoring at 18:06. Mercyhurst pulled senior goalie Peter Aubry at 18:45 but failed to score again.
Findlay outshot Mercyhurst 30-21 as Oiler junior goaltender Jamie Vandespyker stopped 19 Laker shots in picking up the win.
Mercyhurst will travel to Findlay Saturday night to complete the home-and-home weekend series.
