Feb. 24, 2007

Stats

Niagara Falls, NY - #1 Mercyhurst's bid for a perfect conference season came to an end Saturday as Niagara battled the Lakers to a 3-3 overtime tie on `Senior Day'. The deadlock stretched the Lakers' unbeaten streak to 22 games, 20-0-2, as they concluded regular season play with an overall slate of 30-1-3 and a College Hockey America (CHA) ledger of 11-0-1. Mercyhurst clinched the conference regular season crown last weekend with a pair of victories over visiting Wayne State. Niagara concluded the regular season with 10-18-6 and 5-6-1 marks respectively and finished third in CHA, after Wayne State defeated Robert Morris 3-1 today to claim the #2 spot.

The Purple Eagles, thanks to senior netminder Allison Rutledge, who recorded 56 saves, held the Lakers' high-powered offense in check for a second straight day and enjoyed a 3-0 late in the second frame before the Lakers rallied to escape with the stalemate.

Niagara freshman forward Frances McPhail gave the Purple Eagles a 1-0 lead at 4:29 of the first. Sophomore Ashley Riggs made it 2-0 with a power play hit at 14:34 of the first and, when Riggs scored her second of the game and 13th of the year at 7:34 of the middle period, the Lakers found themselves in a 3-0 conference game hole for the second time this season. (Wayne State opened a 3-0 first period advantage January 13 in Detroit before Mercyhurst rebounded to win 7-5.) As before, senior captain Julia Colizza started the comeback when she cashed a power play goal, her 13th of the year, at 16:44 of the second. Colizza was helped by Natalie Payne and Meghan Agosta. Junior Stephanie Jones nailed her 15th of the year, from Valerie Chouinard and Stefanie Bourbeau, at 3:02 of the third and the Lakers were within one. Bourbeau then tied the game at 13:51 with her 20th lamplighter of the season, from Agosta and senior Jill Nugent, at 13:51. Mercyhurst pressured Niagara the rest of the way and had all five shots in overtime put couldn't sole Rutledge again.

Mercyhurst outshot Niagara 59-25, including 44-18 after the first period, and finished 1 of 6 with the skater advantage. Niagara was 1 of 8. Junior Laura Hosier made 22 saves in goal for Mercyhurst.

Of Mercyhurst's three overtime ties this season, this is the first away from home as the Lakers finished the regular season with a 14-1-1 record on the road.

Bourbeau's two points tie her with C.J. Ireland for the all-time career scoring mark with 130 points. Ireland played from 1999 to 2003 and was a four-year captain.

Mercyhurst is now 33-0-4 in its last 37 conference games and leads Niagara in the all-time series 21-4-2. Mercyhurst will open defense of its CHA playoff championship next weekend when it plays the host team, Robert Morris, in one semifinal next Friday, at 4:00pm. Wayne State and Niagara will play in the other semifinal at 1:00pm. The winners will play for the conference championship Saturday afternoon at 4. Mercyhurst has won all four conference championships to date.