Complete Box Score

ERIE, Pa. - Kristen Richards scored her second goal of the game with just eight seconds left in regulation, helping the Niagara Purple Eagles tie the Mercyhurst women's hockey team 3-3 on Saturday night at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers saw their record move to 19-5-2 overall and 5-1-2 in the College Hockey America standings, just one point ahead of Robert Morris, who defeated Syracuse earlier in the afternoon. Meanwhile, Niagara moved to 9-13-7 overall and 2-4-2 in conference play.

The Lakers seemingly had the victory as time dwindled away in the third period. But, with Niagara goaltender Sarah Moses pulled for the extra skater, a pass from Jocey Kleiber along the right wing somehow found its way to the point. Erica Owczarczak took the initial shot and Richards, who was parked in front of the Mercyhurst goal, redirected the shot right through the five hole of senior goaltender Hillary Pattenden for the equalizer.

Mercyhurst had eight shots on goal in overtime, with six coming during a power play. Moses, however, came up huge for Niagara, making one really big save on the nation's leading goal scorer, senior Kelley Steadman on a one-timer from between the circles with less than a minute left.

Senior Bailey Bram gave the Lakers a 1-0 lead at the 17:47 mark of the opening period with her 24th goal of the season, and third of the weekend series with Niagara. Steadman and freshman Molly Byrne had the assists. Mercyhurst outshot Niagara 14-4 in the first twenty minutes of play.

Niagara would tie the game with the only goal of the second period. Kleiber went top shelf over the glove of Pattenden at the 12:33 mark, tying the contest at 1-1. Owczarczak and Kaleigh Chippy had the assists on the power play tally. Shots again favored Mercyhurst in the second period, 7-5.

The third period would go back-and-forth with the Lakers striking first just 1:42 into the final twenty minutes. Sophomore Christine Bestland banged home a rebound for her 19th goal of the season, again on a Mercyhurst power play, reclaiming the one-goal lead for Mercyhurst. Bestland established a new career-high in goals after scoring 18 during her rookie campaign a year ago. It was also her 50th point of the season, joining Bram has the only two players who have reached that mark this season. Seniors Bram and Jess Jones had the assists.

Niagara would again tie the game at 2-2, when Richards got one past Pattenden that eventually trickled across the goal line at the 12:09 mark. Jenna Hendrikx and Leah Whittaker had the assists. Back came the Lakers just a little over two minutes later, when Bram found a wide open Stephanie DeSutter parked in front of the Niagara goal. The junior ripped a shot over the glove of Moses for a 3-2 lead with 5:47 left in regulation. It was DeSutter's third goal of the season after scoring just one goal in 68 games during her first two seasons.

The teams combined for 15 minor penalties in the game, with eight being whistled against the Purple Eagles. Mercyhurst was 2-for-8 on the power play, while Niagara went 1-for-7.

The Lakers outshot Niagara 42-16 for the contest, including 21-7 in the final period and overtime. Pattenden stopped 13-of-16 Niagara shots, seeing her record go to 16-5-2 on the season. Moses stopped 39 shots for the Purple Eagles and moved to 4-6-5 on the year.

Mercyhurst will not have much time until their final non-conference game of the regular season, a showdown with third-ranked Cornell on Tuesday night in Ithaca, N.Y. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The two teams split at the Mercyhurst Ice Center back on December 2 and 3. Big Red took the first game 5-4 before the Lakers responded with a 5-2 win the following afternoon.