Complete Box Score

ERIE, Pa - The sixth-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team scored four goals in a 10-minute span in the second period and handed third-ranked Cornell just its second loss of the season with a 5-2 victory over the Big Red on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers improved to 11-3-0 overall on the season while the Big Red dropped to 10-2.

After Cornell owned a majority of the play in the opening period, holding a 1-0 lead and outshooting the Lakers 18-8, Mercyhurst responded in a big way in the second period, getting goals from seniors Kelley Steadman and Jess Jones, sophomore Christine Bestland, and freshman Molly Byrne during a four-goal outburst against one of the nation's best defenses. Mercyhurst, who could not hang onto two-goal leads on two separate occasions on Friday night, would not be denied on Saturday. Mercyhurst allowed just 17 shots on goal in the final two periods against the country's top offense and skated away with the three-goal win.

Senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden made some huge saves early in the first period, keeping the game scoreless for the first 16 minutes of the contest. However, Chelsea Karpenko scored her third goal of the weekend at the 16:09 mark, with the Big Red on the power play, finally solving the Laker netminder. Hayleigh Cudmore and Catherine White had the assists.

But, things turned around in a hurry in the second period. Steadman broke into the Cornell zone and snapped a shot from between the circles, just inside the far post and past senior Amanda Mazzotta, tying the game at 1-1 just 2:02 into the middle stanza. Freshmen defenders Caroline Luczak and Byrne had the assists on Steadman's 12th goal of the season.

Then, after a battle in front of the Cornell netminder, Bestland banged home a rebound for her 12th goal of the season at the 7:21 mark. Senior Bailey Bram took the initial shot that was stopped, but Bestland was in the right place at the right time to poke it in. Senior Pamela Zgoda had the other assist.

With the Lakers on the power play just over four minutes later, Byrne took advantage of good work along the blue line, and blasted a slapshot through traffic, beating Mazzotta for her third goal of the year. Bram and Jones had the assists on the eventual game-winning tally at the 11:36 mark. Less than a minute later, at 12:22, Jones scored one-on-one against Mazzotta to increase the margin to 4-1. Shelby Bram's outlet pass sprung Jones. Bestland had the other assist.

Cornell would get one back at 15:52 as Jessica Campbell snapped a shot past Pattenden, cutting the Laker lead to 4-2. Amanda Young and Brianne Jenner had the assists on the goal.

After getting outshot 18-8 in the first period, Mercyhurst returned the favor by outshooting Cornell 22-9 in the second period.

Mercyhurst gave Cornell three power play opportunities in the third period, but strong Laker defense, and strong goaltending from Pattenden,kept Cornell off the scoreboard in the final stanza. Then, when Mazzotta on the bench, Jones scored her second goal of the game into the empty net, sealing the Laker victory. Steadman and Bram had the assists.

Mercyhurst outshot Cornell 11-8 in the third period and 41-35 for the contest. It marks the first time all season that Cornell has been outshot in a game. Pattenden picked up her 10th win of the season, and 90th of her career, by stopping 33-of-35 Big Red shots. Pattenden's 90 wins are one shy of tying the NCAA Division I all-time record of 91 held by former Wisconsin goaltender Jessie Vetter. Mazzotta took the loss, stopping 36 Mercyhurst shots.

The Lakers finished 2-of-5 on the power play and took back the best power play percentage in the country. The Lakers held Big Red to 1-of-5 with the skater advantage on the day.

Mercyhurst will not have much time to celebrate, as the competition doesn't get any easier next weekend. The Lakers will travel to Boston, Mass. to take on the fourth-ranked Eagles of Boston College on Friday, December 9 and Saturday, December 10. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday.