Complete Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - The fifth-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team saw its eight-game unbeaten streak, and its 28-game conference unbeaten streak come to an end on Saturday night, as the Colonials of Robert Morris knocked off the Lakers 3-2 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Mercyhurst dropped to 18-5-1 overall and 4-1-1 in conference play while Robert Morris improved to 13-6-2 overall and 2-1-1 in the conference standings.

It marks the first time in the 30-game history between the two schools that Robert Morris has prevailed over Mercyhurst. The Lakers were 29-0-0 against the Colonials heading into Saturday night's game.

Thea Imbrogno slid a shot past Mercyhurst's senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden with 53 seconds left in regulation to complete the Robert Morris comeback. Mercyhurst had a 2-1 lead with 2:38 left in regulation but could not hang on as the Lakers suffered their first conference loss since January 30, 2010 when Niagara handed the Lakers a 2-1 loss.

The Colonials had the only goal of the first period when Cobina Delaney stuffed home a rebound during a Robert Morris power play at the 16:44 mark. Brianna Delaney and Brandi Pollock had the assists. Shots on goal favored Mercyhurst, 7-5 in the opening twenty minutes.

The score remained 1-0 until  the 3:38 mark of the third period when sophomore Christie Cicero slid a shot through the five-hole of Robert Morris goaltender Kristen DiCiocco, tying the game at 1-1. Cicero got behind the Colonial defense after an outlet pass from junior Gina Buquet and beat DiCiocco one-on-one for the tying goal. Senior Jill Szandzik had the other assist on the goal.

Less than four minutes, at the 7:25 mark of the third period, Friday night's hero Kelley Steadman put the Lakers in front 2-1 with her 26th goal of the season. Steadman, who scored all four goals on Friday night, beat DiCiocco with a blast from the right-wing circle for the Lakers first lead on Saturday. Sophomore Christine Bestland and freshman Vaila Higson had the assists on the goal.

Then, following a Colonial timeout, Jamie Joslin tied the game at 2-2 during a five-on-three power play. Joslin took a shot from the point that appeared to hit one of the Laker defenders in front of the Mercyhurst goal and redirected past Pattenden. Imbrogno and Rebecca Vint had the assists. Just seconds after senior Pamela Zgoda came out of the Mercyhurst penalty box, Vint came up with a loose puck inside the Mercyhurst zone and got it ahead to Imbrogno. Imbrogno avoided a poke-check by Pattenden and slid a backhander into the back of the net with 53 seconds left, giving Robert Morris the one-goal advantage.

Pattenden was pulled with 30 seconds left and just moments afterwards, Steadman had a good look at an empty net with DiCiocco out of position, but fired a shot wide of the open goal. The Lakers didn't get another scoring opportunity after Steadman's chance.

Mercyhurst, who came in with the country's best power play, went 0-for-7 with the advantage. Meanwhile, Robert Morris went 2-for-10 on the power play. The Colonials had six power play opportunites in the third period alone.

Pattenden suffered the loss, stopping 21-of-24 Robert Morris shots. She dropped to 15-5-1 overall on the season. DiCiocco stopped 26-of-28 Mercyhurst shots in picking up her 11th win of the season.

The Lakers are off next weekend and then will play another home-and-home series with the Purple Eagles of Niagara on February 3 and 4. The teams will be in Niagara Falls on Friday, February 3 for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff and then will square off at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Saturday, February 4, for a 2:00 p.m. start.