Jan. 12, 2008

Stats

Providence, R.I. - No. 4 Mercyhurst gave up the most goals in six years as the Lakers lost, 7-3, at Providence Saturday afternoon. It was Mercyhurst's first game since a 6-4 setback at Dartmouth on Dec. 16. The Lakers dropped to 14-5-2, while Providence, winners of three straight, improved to 9-8-2.

Mercyhurst opened the scoring at the 15-minute mark of the first period as freshman Vicki Bendus scored her sixth goal of the season, assisted by junior Valerie Chouinard and freshman Jesse Scanzano. But Providence stormed back and took a 2-1 lead into the locker room on goals by leading scorer Kathleen Smith and Jenna Keilch a little more than a minute apart.

The second period acted similar to the first as the Lakers cut the deficit to one at 3-2 when senior Stephanie Jones scored, assisted by freshman Cassea Schols and sophomore Meghan Agosta. But the Friars' Smith and Keilch put the hosts up 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Providence added two more to start the third as Pamela McDevitt and Danielle Tangredi lit the lamp. Mercyhurst freshman Ashley Cockell scored her fourth goal of the season with seven minutes remaining, but Cherie Hendrickson put the exclamation point two minutes later for the Friars.

Mercyhurst outshot Providence 38-35. The Friars' Danielle Ciarletta stopped 35 shots for her eighth win of the season. Junior Courtney Drennen started the contest for the 'hurst and made 18 saves in over 36 minutes, allowing four goals. Senior Laura Hosier came in and allowed three goals on 10 shots in nearly 24 minutes of work. The loss was Drennen's first this season (4-1-0) and is the first in her three-year career in the blue and green (18-1-2).

Agosta had two assists in the game to increase her scoring streak to 16 games.

Kathleen Smith, the senior defenseman coming into today's game with a team-high 16 points, scored two goals on only three shots, while adding a pair of assists.

Mercyhurst finished 1-for-2 on the power play while Providence was 1-for-3.

Mercyhurst continues to lead the all-time series, 5-3. The loss was the first to the Friars since a 3-2 setback in Erie on Jan. 8, 2005.

The loss is the first two-game-or-more losing streak since dropping four straight from Oct. 21-30, 2005. The seven goals allowed were the most since an 11-1 loss at Dartmouth on Jan. 25, 2002.

Mercyhurst will try to redeem itself as the same teams conclude the weekend series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.