Brady Heseltine scored five goals in Mercyhurst's win against Dowling.
BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. -- Mercyhurst, ranked 11th in Division II, rallied past No. 4 Dowling, 10-8, on Saturday. Brady Heseltine led with five goals and two assists as the Lakers overcame an early four-goal deficit to pick up the non-conference road victory.
The Lions scored the first four goals of the day. Brett Williams got Mercyhurst on the board with 1:33 left in the opening quarter, but Dowling answered, going ahead, 5-1, after a period. The Lakers proceeded to flip the game from there, holding Dowling to just three goals the rest of the way.
Brandon Thomson scored a man-up goal at the 11:44 mark of the second frame, beginning the rally. Just over a minute later, Heseltine finished a Connor Enright pass to trim the deficit again. After a Lion score, Heseltine found the back of the net with 9:37 showing on the clock, making it a 6-4 margin. Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the first half.
Heseltine continued his barrage with a goal 25 seconds into the third, pulling Mercyhurst within a goal. With 7:42 to go in the period, Ian Brooks tied the match at 6. On another man-up chance, Enright found Heseltine again, this time connecting for the go-ahead goal with 6:17 left in the quarter. Mitch McAvoy followed with a faceoff win. He sparked another score, slashing in and hitting Jake McAndrew for an 8-6 advantage. A few minutes later, Heseltine scored his fifth goal of the day. Dowling sliced the lead late in the frame, but the Laker defense was up to the task after that.
Heseltine found Chad Levick for a man-up goal at the 12:49 mark of the fourth and then Mercyhurst stood tall, keeping the hosts off the board until there were 21 seconds to play.
Heseltine finished with five goals and two helpers. Enright dished out a pair of assists. Thomson had a goal and four ground balls. McAvoy won nine faceoffs and collected six ground balls. Ryan Sullivan caused three turnovers and picked up five ground balls. Michael Grace played the final three quarters in goal, recording five saves.
Mercyhurst outshot Dowling, 31-26, and went 4-5 on man-up opportunities. The Lions converted just 1-4 man-up tries.
The Lakers moved to 4-2, while Dowling dropped to 5-2 this year.
