Box Score
ERIE, Pa. - Junior forward
Christine Bestland scored two early first period goals to lead ninth-ranked Mercyhurst to a 5-0 win over Providence Saturday and a sweep of the two-game weekend series. Mercyhurst improved to 5-0-1 on the young season while the Friars fell to 1-3-0.
Bestland's fifth and sixth goals of the season came at 0:48 and 5:16 of the opening period. Her first came on a scramble in front and her second came when she got behind the Friars' defense and went top shelf. Both came against Providence starting netminder, junior Nina Riley (0-2-0). The lamplighters were the only markers of the period, which saw Mercyhurst outshoot the Friars 11-3.
Freshman forward
Emily Janiga notched her team-leading seventh goal of the campaign at 11:53 of the middle period. Freshman forward
Jenna Dingeldein collected her first career goal on a wraparound at 4:32 of the third and junior winger
Christie Cicero finished the scoring less than three minutes later with her third of the year, during the Lakers' fifth power play of the afternoon.
Mercyhurst owned a 28-19 advantage in shots and converted one of five power play chances. Providence was 0 for 5.
Mercyhurst senior goaltender
Stephanie Ciampa recorded her second shutout and third win of the season. One of her 19 saves came on a breakaway by Allison Micheletti midway in the final period. Micheletti also banged one off the post early in the second stanza. Ciampa is now 7-0-0 lifetime with two shutouts.
Bestland finished with two goals and a helper and now leads the team in both points (16) and helpers (10). Janiga had a goal and three assists and is second on the team in points with 13. Sophomore backliners
Molly Byrne and
Vaila Higson had two assists apiece.
Mercyhurst finished 5 for 10 on the power play in the weekend series and killed all eleven power play chances for the Friars. Providence freshman goalie Allie Morse replaced Riley after Cicero's marker in the third and was credited with one save.
Mercyhurst stretched its career mark against Providence to 11-3 and has shut out the Friars in three of the last four meetings.
The Lakers will host Clarkson next Friday and Saturday at the Ice Center at 7p.m. and 3p.m. respectively.
