Complete Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Sophomore Christine Bestland scored 1:16 into the second period, helping the Mercyhurst women's hockey team salvage a 1-1 tie with College Hockey America rival Syracuse on Saturday afternoon at the Tennity Ice Pavilion in Syracuse N.Y. The Lakers, who extended their unbeaten streak to five consecutive games, saw their record move to 15-4-1 overall and 1-0-1 in conference play. Meanwhile, the Orange moved to 8-13-2 overall and 0-2-2 in the conference.

Mercyhurst had won 24 consecutive conference games entering play this afternoon, but saw that streak come to a close. The last blemish in a College Hockey America game for the Lakers came on January 30, 2010, when Mercyhurst lost 2-1 to Niagara. Despite the win streak coming to a close, the conference unbeaten streak remains intact at 25 straight contests, which is still well short of the longest Mercyhurst conference unbeaten streak. The Lakers went 36-0-4 from March 6, 2004 to February 8, 2008.

The Lakers were playing for the second straight contest without the services of the nation's leading scorer, senior Bailey Bram, and her freshman sister Shelby Bram, who are currently in Germany with the Canadian National Women's Under-22 Team at the 2012 Meco Cup.

Syracuse jumped out in front 1-0 during a 4-on-4 situation at the 17:09 mark of the opening period, when Lisa Mullan beat Mercyhurst netminder Hillary Pattenden. Kallie Goodnough and Britney Krebs had the assists on the lone goal of the period. Mercyhurst held a 7-6 shot advantage after the opening twenty minutes.

Bestland got Mercyhurst on the board at the 1:16 mark of the second period, capitalizing on the power play and tying the game at 1-1 with her 17th goal of the season. Freshman Molly Byrne and senior Jess Jones had the assists. The Lakers again outshot Syracuse, this time by a much wider margin - 13-5.

Defense and goaltending took over from that point, as Pattenden dualed with Syracuse goaltender Kallie Billadeau for the remainder of the game. Both teams had power play opportunities and scoring chances, but neither team could dent the scoreboard the rest of the way. Syracuse had a full two-minute power play in overtime, but could not even muster a shot.

Mercyhurst outshot Syracuse 34-15 for the contest, including a 27-9 margin during the second, third, and overtime periods. Pattenden stopped 14-of-15 Syracuse shots to see her record go to 13-4-1 this season. Meanwhile, Billadeau stopped 33 Mercyhurst shots moving her record to 4-6-2 on the season.

The Lakers converted the only power play of the afternoon, finishing the day 1-for-6 with the skater advantage. Syracuse finished 0-for-5.

Mercyhurst will have a home-and-home series next Friday and Saturday with the Purple Eagles of Niagara, as Mercyhurst continues conference play. Niagara, the last team to defeat Mercyhurst in a conference game, will come to the Mercyhurst Ice Center for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff on Friday, January 13. Then, the two teams will convene in Niagara Falls to conclude the weekend series on Saturday, Janaury 14 for a 2:00 p.m. start.