HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team put forth its best offensive effort of the season on Friday night, but the squad fell by a 5-1 score to visiting Mercyhurst at the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center. The Chargers fall to 1-20-1 on the year, while the Lakers improve to 9-8-2.
 
In the loss, the Chargers threw the puck towards the opposition's goal a season-high 39 times, shattering the previous high of 29 the team set against Air Force on Oct. 21, but Laker goalie Max Strang was up to the task as he turned away 38 of the shots.
 
Seven of the UAH attempts came during an extended stay on the power play in the second period as the Blue and White recorded multiple strong scoring chances, but unfortunately the team was unable to take the lead as the game was tied at 1-1 at the time.
 
After killing off the penalties, the visitors capitalized on the momentum generated and scored a pair of quick goals at 13:14 and 15:17 of the frame to take a firm grasp on the contest.
 
The second goal of the frame was a power-play marker from Ryan Misiak as the Lakers finished the night 1-for-4 with the man-advantage, while the Chargers were 0-for-5.
 
The UAH effort was particularly impressive as the squad overcame an early deficit – Paul Chiasson opened the scoring for the Lakers at just the 2:17 mark of the opening stanza – and went into the locker room at the first intermission with the score tied and holding a 15-8 advantage in shots.
 
Tyler Kotlarz notched the UAH goal at 11:08 of the first with Michael Webley and Alex Allan picking up the assists.
 
Registering 30 saves, Clarke Saunders picked up the loss in net for the Chargers.
 
The two teams will round of the 2011 calendar year on Saturday as they square off for a New Year's Eve matinee at 3 p.m.