Dec. 1, 2007

Stats

Niagara University, N.Y. - No. 6/7 Mercyhurst stretched its winning streak to three and remained unbeaten in College Hockey America (3-0-0) with a 6-1 win over the Purple Eagles Saturday afternoon at Dwyer Area. The Lakers improved to 11-2-2 while Niagara lost its conference opening game and third straight overall to fall to 6-5-2 and 0-1-0 respectively.

Niagara scored the first goal of the game when sophomore forward Mallory Yorkston slid one past Hosier at 5:07 of the first. The Lakers rallied with two goals before the end of the period then tacked on two in each of the second and third frames. Freshman Vicki Bendus collected her fourth of the season at 9:10, with help from freshman Jesse Scanzano and junior Valerie Chouinard. It was her fourth of the season and first since October 26th. Mercyhurst took the lead at 15:21 when Chouinard scored a shorthanded, unassisted goal. It was her 7th of the season and first shorthanded. The Lakers owned a 17-10 shot advantage in the first period.

The lead grew to 4-1 after forty minutes when sophomore Meghan Agosta banged home another shorthanded goal, her 16th of the year, with help from Bendus at 3:26 and senior Kristen Erickson cashed her second of the year, from Agosta and Scanzano, at 18:04. Mercyhurst outshot Niagara 20-4 in the middle period.

The Lakers concluded the scoring with two more goals in the third. Freshman Ashley Cockell tallied her second of the year, from Agosta and senior Stephanie Jones, at 7:52 and senior Jackie Jarrell parked her third of the year, eight minutes later, on a power play. Jarrell got help from Scanzano and freshman Geena Prough. Mercyhurst had a 19-6 shot advantage in the third and outdistanced the Purple Eagles 56-20 overall.

Mercyhurst senior goalie Laura Hosier was the beneficiary of the six-goal attack as she picked up her seventh win of the season (7-2-2) and 60th in her career. She trails all-time leaders in wins, Desi Clark, by just three victories. Junior Nikki Rudy (3-3-1) suffered the loss.

Mercyhurst finished 1 of 3 on the power play while Niagara wound up 0 for 5. Agosta and Scanzano led the point parade with three apiece.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Sunday afternoon at 2.