Feb. 23, 2007

Stats

Niagara Falls, NY - Mercyhurst just completed final exams for the winter term this week, but may have survived its toughest test Friday. The #1 Lakers were stretched to the limit before edging Niagara 2-1 in a College Hockey America contest at Dwyer Arena. Mercyhurst won its 30th game of the season (30-1-2), remained unbeaten in its last 21 games (20-0-1), and stayed perfect in the conference at 11-0-0. Niagara fell to 10-18-5 and 5-6-0 respectively.

Niagara scored eight minutes into the gane when senior forward Katie Gray cashed her sixth of the year on a rebound. Mercyhurst tied the game three minutes later when senior Stefanie Bourbeau's shot from the right point, on a power play, eluded Niagara senior Allison Rutledge. Bourbeau's 19th goal of the season was assisted by Melissa Dianoski and Angelica Lorsell.

The score remained deadlocked until four-and-a-half minutes into the third when freshman forward Meghan Agosta knocked in her own rebound. Agosta's goal, helped by Julia Colizza and Danielle Ayearst, was her 34th of the season and her 9th game-winner, extending both Mercyhurst one-season marks. Her one point on the afternoon advanced her to 64 for the campaign, surpassing the prior mark of 63 held by C.J. Ireland in 1999-2000, the first year of the program.

Mercyhurst outshot Niagara 37-23 as junior Laura Hosier picked up her 25th win of the season and 51st of her career. Rutledge suffered the setback despite making 35 saves. Niagara had a great chance to send the game to overtime when the Lakers were assessed a miinor penalty with less than two minutes to play in regulation, but couldn't capitalize despite pulling Rutledge for a 6-on-4 advantage.

Mercyhurst improved to 13-1-0 on the road and 7-1 this season in one-goal games. The Lakers hadn't been held to as few as two goals since January 5 when they edged Cornell 2-1 at the Ice Center. The Lakers were missing five players for the Cornell series, however, all of whom were playing in a tournament in Germany.

The Lakers are now 33-0-3 in their last 36 conference games. Niagara was the last team to defeat the Lakers, pulling the trick March 6, 2004 in Erie by a 3-1 score. The Purple Eagles haven't won at home, however, since a 2-0 verdict January 14 of 2001.

The two teams will conclude the regular season and weekend series tomorrow afternoon at 2:00pm.