Dec. 7, 2007

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Erie, Pa. - Sixth-ranked Mercyhurst defeated a number one-ranked opponent for the first time in its nine-year history. The culprit was No. 1 New Hampshire and the outcome was 4-3 before over 850 fans at the MIC. The Lakers, winners of five straight and two consecutive over the Wildcats, improved to 13-2-2 overall, while UNH dropped to 15-2-0. The loss was UNH's first since a 2-1 setback at home against Princeton on Nov. 11.

Mercyhurst set the tempo just 10 seconds into the contest as junior forward Valerie Chouinard beat freshman netminder Kayley Herman under her glove hand in the right faceoff circle. Sophomore forward Meghan Agosta lit the lamp 13 minutes later on a breakaway after the puck was redirected in the neutral zone by a skate.

Agosta made it 3-0 a minute and a half into the second period. The Wildcats got on the board as Kelly Paton scored past senior goaltender Laura Hosier. Mercyhurst completed its - and the period's - scoring on Ashley Cockell's wrister at 13:34.

New Hampshire made things interesting with two third-period goals, one just under nine minutes by Sadie Wright-Ward and the other with 17 and a half minutes remaining by leading scorer Sam Faber with an extra attacker on the ice for the goaltender. UNH pulled Herman again with under a minute to play but could not get the equalizer.

UNH outshot Mercyhurst 29-25, only the third time this season that the Lakers were outshot.

Mercyhurst was 0-for-5 on the power play, while UNH was 2-for-8. MC was whistled for six straight penalties from midway through the first period until midway through the second, but the Wildcats were only 1-for-6 in that span.

Laura Hosier made 26 saves for Mercyhurst, including 11 and 10 through the first two periods, respectively, to improve to 9-2-2. Kayley Herman stopped 21 shots in the loss and is now 13-2-0.

Fun Facts:
Senior netminder Laura Hosier has 62 career wins, one shy of Desi Clark's record of 63.

Meghan Agosta's short-handed goal was the 11th of her career. She is ranked first nationally with five short-handed markers this season.

With two goals tonight, Agosta has 16 multiple-goal games in her collegiate career.

The same teams will finish the weekend series on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Ice Center.