ANN ARBOR, Mich. — After a bleak beginning, the Mercyhurst men’s hockey team made a furious rally to earn a 4-4 tie against fourth-ranked Michigan in the Lakers’ season opener in front of 6,200 fans on Saturday night.

The Wolverines jumped to a comfortable lead in the first period when Louie Caporusso and Scooter Vaughn each notched a goal in the final minutes of the period to make the score 2-0 at the first intermission. The lead grew to 4-0 midway through the second period after Greg Pateryn scored and Matt Rust converted on an unassisted short-handed goal.

However, Taylor Holstrom gave the Lakers some hope going into the second intermission when his power-play goal put Mercyhurst on the board in the 13th minute. The momentum carried out of the locker room as Paul Chiasson found the net in the third period’s first five minutes after receiving the puck from Nick Jones. Grant Blakey and Brandon Coccimiglio brought the Lakers all the way back to tie the game with eight minutes left in the regulation.

In a physical overtime, each team had decent looks for the win but were unable to cash in, leading to a 4-4 score. The Lakers did, however, defeat the Wolverines in an exhibition shootout when Chiasson and Jeff Terminesi each converted on their shots, while goaltender Jordan Tibett stoned the Wolverines on all but one attempt.

Tibett, a freshman from Indianapolis, gave the Lakers a considerable boost when he replaced Max Strang midway through the second period. Tibett allowed just one goal while recording 22 saves. Both the Lakers and Wolverines begin their season 0-0-1. The Lakers will return home for an exhibition match with Queens on Sunday.

- From staff reports