Complete Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Senior Kelley Steadman scored her second hat trick of the season, and freshman Hailey Browne had the first multi-goal game of her career, as the fifth-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team opened conference play with an 8-4 victory at Syracuse on Friday night. The Lakers, who have won four straight, improved to 15-4-0 overall, while the Orange dropped to 8-13-1 on the season. Syracuse is now 0-2-1 in conference action.

Mercyhurst improved to 15-0-0 lifetime against Syracuse thanks to Steadman and Browne who combined for five of Mercyhurst's eight goals on the night. Juniors Lauren Jones and Gina Buquet, and sophomore Christine Bestland had the other markers. The Lakers, who came in with the nation's second-best offense, did not miss a beat despite missing senior Bailey Bram and freshman sister Shelby Bram who are currently in Germany with the Canadian National Women's Under-22 Team at the 2012 Meco Cup.

Bestland got the offense started at the 3:04 mark of the first period with her 16th goal of the season. Senior Jess Jones and freshman Molly Byrne each had their first of three assists on the night. Exactly two minutes later, Syracuse got on the board with a goal from Shiann Darkangelo. Jessica Sorensen had the assist on the goal, which tied the game at 1-1.

The Lakers recaptured the one-goal lead at the 9:10 mark on Lauren Jones' ninth goal of the season, with the assists going to Byrne and Steadman. It marked a career-high in goals in a season for Jones, who scored eight during her freshman season two years ago. However, just 23 seconds later, Margot Scharfe tied the game at 2-2 with her seventh marker of the year. Brittney Krebs had the lone assist.

Mercyhurst would close out the first period with two more goals, and took a 4-2 lead to the locker room after the opening twenty minutes. Browne gave the Lakers a one-goal lead back at the 14:17 mark with her second goal of the year. Bestland and Jess Jones had the helpers. Then, Steadman scored her first of the night, and 17th of the season, at the 17:54 mark with assists from sophomore Christie Cicero and freshman Caroline Luczak.

Shots in the first period favored Mercyhurst 16-5.

Browne would give Mercyhurst a 5-2 lead at the 15-minute mark of the second period. The goal, which was her second of the game and third of the season, also proved to be her first-ever game-winning tally. Senior Pamela Zgoda and Cicero had the assists. But, Syracuse would not go quietly, cutting the lead back to two just 55 seconds later. Jacquie Greco scored her first goal of the season, on the power play, with assists from Darkangelo and Lisa Mullen.

But, Steadman put an end to the comeback bid, recpaturing the three-goal lead at the 17:19 mark with her second of the game and 18th of the season. Byrne and Jess Jones had the assists on Mercyhurst's second power play goal of the night. Again, the Lakers outshot Syracuse, but this time by a much slimmer margin - 10-8.

Syracuse would try one more time for the comeback, when Megan Skelly scored at the 11:16 mark, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 6-4. But, Buquet scored her second goal of the season just over two minutes later, gettting help from freshman Kristine Grenier and junior Stephanie DeSutter. Steadman would put the icing on the cake with a shorthanded empty-netter at the 18:09 mark, completing her second hat trick of the season. Bestland and senior Jill Szandzik had the assists. Shots again favored the Lakers in the third period 17-10. 

Senior Hillary Pattenden, who became the NCAA's winningest goaltender on December 14 against Lindenwood, didn't have her sharpest game, but still picked up the victory - her 13th of the season and 93rd of her career. She stopped 19-of-23 Syracuse shots in the win. Meanwhile, Jenesica Drinkwater and Kallie Biladeau combined to stop 35 Mercyhurst shots in defeat.

The Lakers, who came in with the country's second-best power play unit, finished the game 2-for-5 on the power play. Syracuse was 1-for-6.

The weekend series will conclude on Saturday afternoon from the Tennity Ice Pavilion in Syracuse, N.Y. Faceoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.