CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Senior Kelley Steadman scored her 100th career point on Friday with a second period goal, but the fourth-ranked Boston College Eagles scored two first period goals and defeated the sixth-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team 4-2 on Friday night in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Lakers dropped to 11-4 overall, while the Eagles improved to 13-4-1 overall on the season.

The Lakers have now lost two of their last three games during the toughest stretch of the season. Mercyhurst split with third-ranked Cornell last weekend, and will have an opportunity to do the same against Boston College on Saturday afternoon.

Boston College scored two goals in the opening period 4:44 apart. Caitlin Walsh got the Eagles out in front 1-0 at the 5:06 mark, beating senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden. Melissa Bizzari and Jackie Young had the assists on the goal. Then, Danielle Welch scored an unassisted goal at the 9:50 mark, closing out the scoring in the opening twenty minutes.

Mercyhurst actually outshot Boston College 16-14 in the opening period.

The Lakers cut the lead in half just 56 seconds into the second period, as Steadman scored her 13th goal of the season, with assists going to senior Jess Jones and freshman Caroline Luczak. But, the Eagles would recapture to two-goal lead at 3-1 just 39 seconds later, at the 1:35 mark, on a goal by Ashley Motherwell. Jackie Young had the lone assist. Boston College outshot the Lakers 18-7 in the second period.

Mercyhurst would again make things interesting, as senior Pamela Zgoda picked up her second goal of the season at the 16:57 mark of the third period. The unassisted goal again cut the Boston College lead to one-goal. But, with Pattenden pulled for an extra attacker, the Eagles would seal the game with an empty net tally from Alex Carpenter, unassisted, at 18:48.

Mercyhurst peppered Boston College netminder Corrine Boyles with 22 shots in the third period, outshooting the Eagles 22-7. But, Boyles stopped 21 in the third and 43 shots for the game in picking up her 13th win of the season.

Pattenden suffered the loss, stopping 35 shots in defeat. The senior will have to wait another day to see if she can tie the all-time NCAA Division I record for wins. Pattenden is sitting on 90 wins, one shy of former Wisconsin goaltender Jessie Vetter's 91.

Neither team was able to convert on the power play. Mercyhurst, coming in with the best power play in the country, finished the game 0-for-6. Boston College was 0-for-7.

Mercyhurst and Boston College will complete their weekend series on Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill. Faceoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.