March 2, 2007

Stats

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Freshman Meghan Agosta had a pair of goals and two assists as Mercyhurst won its 31st game and advanced to the College Hockey America championship game Saturday with a hard-fought 5-2 win over Robert Morris. The Lakers, who improved to 5-0 this season and 10-0 lifetime against the Colonials, are now to 31-1-3. RMU ended its season 11-22-2. In the opener, Melissa Boal scored two third-period goals to rally #2 Wayne State (15-17-1) to a 3-2 win over #3 Niagara (10-19-6) and a spot in Saturday's championship contest at 4:00pm. The game will mark the Warriors' first trip to the finals since the program's inception in 1999-2000.

Mercyhurst opened a 3-0 lead over the Colonials in the first twelve minutes. Sophomore forward Kristen Erickson tallied her third of the year from in front at 4:16, sophomore transfer Melissa Dianoski followed with her third of the season, a power play hit off a rebound at 8:11, and freshman winger and CHA Rookie and Player of the Year, Meghan Agosta, parked her 35th of the campaign at 11:56. Erickson had't lit the lamp since December 1 in a 6-1 home win over Princeton, a span of 20 games. Dianoski scored a pair of goals in her second game as a Laker, a 6-2 win over Cornell January 6 at the Ice Center, but hadn't connected in her last 14. Robert Morris broke a six-game and 415:27 scoring drought of its own against the Lakers dating to last season when sophomore Kathryn Traynor collected her third of the year on a power play at 15:36. Mercyhurst outshot the Colonials 14-4 in the opening period.

The teams played scoreless hockey for nearly 16 minutes of the middle period before Mercyhurst sophomore forward Valerie Chouinard, a First Team All-CHA choice, lit the lamp for the 26th time this year at 15:39, on another Laker power play, to restore the three-goal lead at 4-1. The power play strike was Chouinard's 16 such goal of the year, tying her for the team lead with Agosta. The Lakers owned a sizeable 17-5 advantage in shots in the middle period.

Robert Morris made one last run at the Lakers when sophomore forward Morgan Beikirch tallied RMU's second power play at 11:11, which reduced the Mercyhurst lead to 4-2. But Agosta finished the scoring and Robert Morris with her second of the game and 36th of the season at 16:50. The Colonials took three minor penalties in the game's last two minutes, negating any possibility of reducing the deficit. Mercyhurst outshot Robert Morris 13-3 in the third and 44-12 for the 60 minutes.

Agosta's game winning goal in the first was her one-season record 10th and her four points increased her one-season mark to a record 70.

Junior netminder Laura Hosier won her 26th game of the year (26-1-2), tying her for first all-time in one-season victories with Desirae Clark. Robert Morris sophomore Brianne McLaughlin settled down after a rough first period, but finished her season with 39 saves and an 8-17-2 slate.

The Lakers finished 2 for 11 on the power play while the Colonials wound up 2 for 7.

Senior Stefanie Bourbeau failed to register a point and remains tied for the all-time Mercyhurst scoring lead with 130. Senior Julia Colizza collected an assist and moved into a tie for third in the all-time scoring parade with 125.

Mercyhurst head coach Michael Sisti said following the contest that the Lakers will have to play much better tomorrow: "I was disappointed in how our team played today, but we survived and are looking forward to the title game Saturday."

The Lakers have won the first four CHA league titles, but will be facing Wayne State and former Mercyhurst assistant coach Jim Fetter for the first time in the title match. Tomorrow's tilt is due to start at 4:00pm.