ERIE, Pa. -- The Western Michigan hockey team held off a rally by Mercyhurst to defeat the Lakers, 3-2, in front of 500 fans at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday night.

The Broncos got off to a quick start with a goal 2:05 into the first period. Ryan Watson, J.J. Crew and Ian Slater got in behind the Mercyhurst defensive line, creating a three-on-one advantage. Crew played it from right to left to Watson and Watson dropped the puck back to Slater. The junior captain quickly fired the shot past Mercyhurst goalie Jordan Tibbett for his first goal of the season.

WMU's 1-0 lead only lasted for 1:21 as Mercyhurst tied it up on a goal by Ryan Raven. Raven got the puck from Daniel O'Donoghue in the left circle and fired it over WMU goalie Nick Pisellini's shoulder for his first goal of the season to tie the game 1-1.

After the furious start things settled down and the defensive play rose as neither team could really get things going. With just 15 seconds remaining Crew broke up a play in the Bronco zone, passed it to Slater and then off to Watson, who took off down the ice. Watson had two defensemen in his way, but fired the puck from the far tip of the right circle. The puck went between both the defenseman and the goalie's legs and in the net for his first goal of the season, giving WMU a 2-1 lead just before the end of the period.

Western Michigan capitalized on the first penalty of the game early in the second period. Greg Squires fired a shot from the right point, the puck was deflected in front of the net by Dane Walters and past Tibbett for his first goal of the season. Squires and Elias each tallied assists on the game-winning goal.

Now with a 3-1 lead, WMU looked to have the momentum but two penalties changed that. at the 6:34 mark Ross Henry was called for interference and 10 seconds later Luke Witkowski was called for cross checking, giving Mercyhurst a five-on-three advantage for 1:50. Pisellini was in top form, making eight saves during the disadvantage as the Broncos successfully killed both penalties.

Pisellini made 17 of his 29 saves in the second period. Mercyhurst would add a goal with 39 seconds remaining in the third period but the Broncos killed off the remaining time for their second straight win. The line of Crew, Watson and Slater finished with two goals and four assists on the night.

Western Michigan battles Mercyhurst on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. for the final game of the series.