ERIE, Pa. – Junior captain
Vicki Bendus scored two goals to lead the No. 1 Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team over Niagara, 2-0, in a College Hockey America contest Friday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. With the victory, the Lakers (20-1-3, 7-0-1 CHA) extend their unbeaten streak to 16 games and mark their ninth-consecutive 20-win campaign dating back to the 2000-01 season.
Bendus recorded her sixth multi-goal game of the season and became the ninth player in Mercyhurst history to score 20 goals in a season with an even-strength marker in the first period and an empty-net tally with less than a minute remaining in the third.
Following a turnover in Purple Eagle territory, sophomore
Jess Jones took a pass from junior captain
Melissa Lacroix and pummeled Niagara goaltender Jenni Bauer with three shots. On her third attempt, Bauer lost control of the puck as it sailed to the high slot, where Bendus got control and backhanded it to the far post for the 1-0 lead at 4:12.
The score would remain the same for nearly 56 minutes until she added the finishing touches, an empty-net score assisted by Lacroix and sophomore
Kelley Steadman from center ice with 31 seconds remaining.
Bendus now has 20 goals and 46 points to rank first on the team and in the country.
Sophomore
Hillary Pattenden turned aside all 12 shots in the contest, including three on four power-play opportunities, to record her third shutout of the season and third-career over the Purple Eagles. She is now 20-1-3 on the season and 19-0-1 all-time in CHA games.
Mercyhurst outshot Niagara 41-12, including 15-2 in the first period, and finished 0-for-4 on the power play.
Both teams close out the series on Saturday, Jan. 30, with a 2 p.m. contest at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.