Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Junior forward Christie Cicero scored a pair of first period power play goals and sophomore goaltender Amanda Makela turned aside 12 shots for her first career shutout as the fourth-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team blanked Yale University 4-0 on Friday night in New Haven, Connecticut. With the win, the Lakers improved to 11-1-1 overall while the Bulldogs dropped to 1-8-0 on the season.

The Lakers improved to 11-0-1 lifetime against the Bulldogs and are now on a six-game winning streak after suffering their only loss of the season back on October 19 - a 3-0 setback to third-ranked Clarkson. Since the loss, Mercyhurst has outscored its opponents 31-6.

Cicero got the Lakers on the board at the 8:16 mark of the opening period with her eighth goal of the season, a power play tally that beat Yale netminder Jaimie Leonoff for a 1-0 Mercyhurst advantage. Sophomore defenseman Vaila Higson had the lone assist. Cicero has now scored the first goal in a contest three times this season to lead the team in that category.

The junior from Manalapan, New Jersey was not done, however. She scored her second power play goal of the period at the 17:59 mark, giving the Lakers a 2-0 lead after the opening twenty minutes. Sophomore defenseman Molly Byrne and sophomore forward Shelby Bram had the assists on Cicero's ninth goal of the season. Cicero's nine goals now tie her for the team lead with junior Christine Bestland and freshman Emily Janiga.

Mercyhurst outshot Yale 11-3 in the opening period.

Senior forward Gina Buquet gave the Lakers a 3-0 lead at the 4:29 mark of the second period with her second goal of the season. Junior forward Kaleigh Chippy and sophomore defenseman Caroline Luczak had the assists on Buquet's goal. Buquet, who would add an assist on Mercyhurst's final goal of the night, now has two goals and five assists for seven points in 13 games this season. In her first season with the Lakers a year ago, Buquet had only six points (two goals, four assists) in 34 games.

The Lakers again held a wide shot margin in the second period, outshooting the Bulldogs 14-5.

The Bulldogs would pull Leonoff for an extra attacker late in the third period. Senior Lauren Jones then scored the final goal of the night, her fifth goal of the season, with 30 seconds left in the contest for the 4-0 final margin. Buquet and Higson had the assists on the empty net tally.

Mercyhurst outshot Yale 13-4 in the third period and 38-12 for the contest.

Makela turned aside all 12 Bulldog shots for her first collegiate shutout. She improved to 4-1-1 on the season, lowering her goals against average to 2.14 and upping her save percentage to .906. Leonoff played well for the Bulldogs in defeat, turning aside 34 Mercyhurst shots. She dropped to 1-8-0 on the season.

Mercyhurst went 2-for-5 on the power play and improved to 18-for-75 (24.0%) on the season. Yale was scoreless on four opportunities.

The Lakers will look to extend their winning streak to seven straight games when the two teams conclude their weekend series on Saturday afternoon, November 17. Faceoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. from Ingalls Rink.