Complete Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Sophomore Christine Bestland scored two goals and freshman Molly Byrne tied a career-high with four points as the fifth-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team defeated Syracuse 6-2 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday afternoon. The win moved the Lakers to 20-6-2 overall on the season and 6-1-2 in College Hockey America play. Syracuse dropped to 9-19-3 overall and 0-6-3 in the conference.

The Lakers improved to 16-0-1 lifetime against Syracuse.

Bestland registered her fourth multi-goal game of the season, but her first since a 4-1 win over St. Lawrence on November 23 at the Ice Center. All told, Bestland is third on the team with 21 goals on the year. Meanwhile, Byrne had a goal and three assists, tying her career-high she posted against Lindenwood on October 29, when she had four helpers. The freshman defenseman now has a point in four straight games and in nine of her last ten contests.

Byrne started the scoring for the Lakers at exactly the midway mark of the first period. Attempting a dump in from the center red line, Byrne's shot trickled right the five-hole of Syracuse netminder Kallie Billadeau for a 1-0 Mercyhurst lead. Freshman Caroline Luczak had the lone assist on Byrne's sixth goal of the season.

The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with just 36 seconds left in the first period on a much-more conventional goal from senior Jess Jones. With Mercyhurst on the power play, senior Kelley Steadman took the initial shot that hit the crossbar behind Billadeau. The long carom off the iron ended up on the stick of Jones, who jammed it home for her 12th goal of the season. Byrne had the other helper on the goal.

Shots favored Mercyhurst 14-7 in the opening twenty minutes.

Mercyhurst would extend its lead to 4-0 with a pair of goals 53 seconds apart to start the second period. Senior Bailey Bram cashed in her 25th goal of the season at the 2:42 mark after a Syracuse giveaway in the neutral zone. Junior Lauren Jones was credited with the assist. Then, Bestland got on the board with her 20th of the season at the 3:35 mark, again after a Syracuse turnover, this time inside its own zone. Bestland's goal was unassisted.

Syracuse would get on the board at the 16:13 mark of the second period, cashing in on a power play. An initial shot from the point pinballed its way towards senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden. The puck ended up on the stick of Brittany Krebs, who knocked it home for her first goal of the season. Taylor Metcalfe and Megan Skelly had the assists.

Mercyhurst held a 17-5 shot advantage in the second period.

The Orange would try to make things interesting to start the third period. Margot Scharfe snuck a shot between the legs of Pattenden just 14 seconds into the final stanza, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 4-2. Caitlin Roach had the lone assist on the goal. However, senior Jill Szandzik would dash any thoughts of a Syracuse comeback with a shot from the left point at the 8:48 mark. Szandzik's fourth goal of the season was assisted by Steadman and Byrne.

Bestland would put the icing on the cake, banging home a rebound for her second goal of the game and 21st of the season at the 14:53 mark. Her power play goal was assisted by Byrne and Bailey Bram.

Pattenden picked up her 17th victory of the season and 97th of her career, stopping 18-of-20 Syracuse shots. Already the NCAA's all-time winningest goaltender, Pattenden is now three wins shy of becoming the first goaltender to 100 career victories. Billadeau, meanwhile, stopped 37-of-43 Mercyhurst shots. Her record dropped to 5-11-2 on the season.

Mercyhurst, who entered play with the country's best power play at 29.9%, converted 2-of-4 power play opportunities in the contest. Syracuse went 1-for-3 with the skater advantage.

The two teams will conclude their weekend series at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Saturday afternoon. Faceoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and is part of the annual Beef & Beatles women's hockey fundraiser.