Box Score BOX SCORE

ERIE, Pa – The seventh-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey handed #5 Clarkson its first loss on Saturday by a score of 4-3.  The Lakers skate away with a split on the weekend, and improve to 6-1-1 in their early season.  The Golden Knights lose their first game of the season, falling to 5-1.
 
The win marked a team effort, as the Lakers took a total of 35 shots to Clarkson's 27.  Five of Mercyhurst's players took at least four or more shots on goal, with Junior Kaleigh Chippy leading the team with six shots.  The Lakers special teams were 2-7 in the power-play and killed off three of five Clarkson power-play opportunities.
 
Mercyhurst came out strong in the first period, outshooting the Golden Knights 11-1 on net.  Chippy scored her first goal of the season at 4:54, a power-play goal from sophomore Molly Byrne and junior captain Christine Bestland.  Freshman Jenna Dingeldein scored her second goal of the season at the 14:13 mark on a breakaway to give her team a 2-0 advantage heading into the first intermission.
 
Clarkson took no time getting on the board in the second, when Jamie Lee Rattray scored her first goal of the contest at the 3:49 mark.  Senior Jenna Hendrikx restored the two-goal lead at the 18:41 off of a cycle from senior assistant captain Lauren Jones, and senior Stephanie DeSutter.  The Lakers outshot Clarkson in the second, 14 to 10. 
 
The Golden Knights scored their first power-play goal of the game at 5:26, when Rattray scored her second goal of the game and fourth of the weekend.   Byrne would serve a minor penalty at 9:26, then came out of the box two minutes later and scored the game-winning goal on an odd man rush. 
 
With two and a half minutes left in regulation time, Clarkson pulled their goalie for a six on five opportunity.  The opportunity would increase when the Lakers would have a player in the box and have to kill a six on four.  Clarkson would close the two goal gap on a power-play goal by Vanessa Gagnon, with 37 seconds left.  Clarkson would keep the one man advantage until the end of the period.
 
Bestland notched three assists on Saturday, and took four shots on net in the 4-3 victory.  Byrne had a goal and an assist, while Jones, and DeSutter also contributed an assist.
 
Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa continues her undefeated season at 4-0-0, making 27 saves on 30 shots.  Clarkson goaltender Erica Howe (5-1) made 31 saves on 35 shots, takes the first loss in net for Clarkson this season.
 
No. 7 Mercyhurst will host Minnesota State- Mankato (4-2-2) on Friday, October 19 at 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 20 at 1:00 p.m.  There will be a Halloween Costume contest on Friday night's game.  Awards will be given to the best adult and child costume in the stands.