Houghton, Mich. - Michigan Tech erased a 2-1 first-period deficit with three unanswered goals in the middle stanza, then had to hang on to defeat Mercyhurst 4-3 in a season-opening non-conference tilt Friday night. It was the first-ever meeting on ice between the two schools.

Junior Scott Champagne put Mercyhurst on the board first when he scored on the power play just three-and-a-half minutes into the game. The tally stretched Champagne's scoring streak to 20 games dating to last season.

The Huskies got the equalizer on an even strength marker from Chris Conner five minutes later before junior defenseman Jamie Hunt restored the Lakers' one-goal advantage with a power play goal of his own at 15:59. Mercyhurst had a 15-11 advantage in shots in a wide-open first twenty minutes.

Tech then scored a pair of even strength goals sandwiched around a power play tally, all on just nine shots, to take control in the middle frame. Taggart Desmet beat Mercyhurst junior goaltender Mike Ella just two minutes into the period to deadlock the game at 2-2. Desmet then put the Huskies ahead to stay four minutes later when he cashed Tech's only power play score in seven attempts. Nick Anderson then scored what proved-to-be the game-winner late in the period at 17:58 as the Huskies left the ice with a 4-2 lead.

The Lakers peppered Tech goalie Michael-Lee Teslak with 21 third period shots, but could only find the back of the net once courtesy of sophomore winger Kerry Bowman. Bowman, the game's second star, cashed his third career goal at 15:31. Mercyhurst pulled Ella in the last minute of the game, but couldn't notch the equalizer.

Mercyhurst outshot Michigan Tech 44-29 and tallied two power play goals in eight attempts.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Saturday night.