Box Score
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Junior captain
Christine Bestland scored the first hat trick of her career to lead fifth-ranked Mercyhurst to a 6-1 victory over Lindenwood on Friday night. The Lakers improved to 9-1-1 in the season and 3-0-0 in the CHA. Lindenwood dropped its first CHA match and is 0-7-0 on the season.
Bestland had six points on three goals and three assists, making it the first time a Laker has scored that many points since December 14, 2011. Bestland's second goal of the game also marked her 50th goal of her career at Mercyhurst.
Lindenwood University was the first to score when Allysson Arcibal scored her second goal of the season on a power-play at 5:35 in the first period. Bestland tied the game at one when she scored her first of three goals on a power-play at 12:50, from sophomore defensemen
Molly Byrne and freshman forward
Jenna Dingeldein. The Lakers outshot Lindenwood 20-13 in the first period.
Five minutes into the second, Bestland scored her second goal of the game and eighth goal of the season. Less than a minute later, senior forward
Lauren Jones scored a short-handed goal from Bestland to extend the lead to3-1. Sophomore
Vaila Higson and Bestland assisted on Jones' second goal of the period at 14:19. Two minutes later, Bestland completed her hat trick with her ninth goal of the season.
Byrne scored the third Laker power-play of the night, and the only goal of the third, with five minutes into the period. Bestland assisted Byrne to complete her six point game, with her 21st helper of the season.
Mercyhurst outshot Lindenwood in the third 26 to three, and had a three period total of 70 to 22. Senior goaltender
Stephanie Ciampa made 21 saves, improving to 6-0-0 this season. Lindenwood's goaltender Nicole Hensley fell to 0-6-0 this season.
The Lakers were successful three out of seven times on special teams. Byrne leads the nation in power-play goals after scoring the sixth goal of the game. Lindenwood was stopped on two out of their three power-play opportunities.
Three Mercyhurst players had multi-point games. Bryne scored a goal and added two assists, and is now third on the team with 15 points. Dingeldein assisted on three goals and is now fourth on the team in points with 14. Jones had two goals and matched her season best.
The two teams meet again Saturday, November 3 at the Lindenwood Ice Center in St. Charles, Missouri. The puck drops at 3:00 (EST).
