TROY, N.Y. – Sophomore Kelley Steadman's goal late in the first period proved to be the difference maker as the top-ranked Mercyhurst College women's hockey team defeated Rensselaer, 1-0, on Friday evening at the Houston Field House. The Lakers, playing for the first time as the No. 1 team in the country, improved to 3-0 on the year and extended their regular-season winning streak to 16 games.

In their first 1-0 victory since defeating Princeton on the road during the 2007-08 season, Steadman provided the knockout punch with less than three minutes remaining in the first. Following a pass from sophomore Jess Jones, freshman Jessica Christofferson got a hold of the puck and fired it at Sonja van der Bliek. The RPI netminder stopped the attempt, but could not control the rebound as it sailed to the near slot where Steadman recovered it for the goal at 17:41.

The score stayed intact through the next two periods as both goaltenders put on a duel. Sophomore Hillary Pattenden (3-0) recorded a season-high 23 saves - 12 of which came in the third period - to earn her second career shutout, while van der Bliek stuffed the Lakers with 10 stops each in the second and third, finishing the night with 31. Mercyhurst held a 32-23 edge in shots.

Both teams came up empty on the power play, with Mercyhurst finishing at 0-for-7 and Rensselaer at 0-for-9.

The Lakers conclude their series with the Engineers on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Houston Field House.