Complete Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Nobody said it would be easy.

Freshman Kristine Grenier picked an opportune time for her first career two-goal game, which included the game-winner early in the third period, as Mercyhurst had to fight and claw against Syracuse on Friday afternoon in the CHA Semifinals, hanging on in the end for a 4-3 victory over the fourth-seeded Orange to advance to the CHA Championship game. Mercyhurst improves to 23-6-3 while Syracuse concludes its season with a 10-22-3 overall mark.



Sophomore Christine Bestland also scored a pair of goals in the victory, as Mercyhurst advances to try to win its 11th consecutive conference championship. Grenier, however, proved to be a huge story, as she became the latest unsung hero to lead Mercyhurst to a victory this season. Her goal at the 3:36 mark of the third period proved to be the game-winning goal, and also marked her first-ever multi-goal effort.

Friday afternoon also proved to be a milestone afternoon for a pair of seniors. Goaltender Hillary Pattenden, already the NCAA's all-time winningest netminder, became the first goaltender in history to reach 100 career victories. She stopped 32 shots in the semifinal win. Bailey Bram also became the fourth player in Mercyhurst history to join the 200-point club with an assist on Mercyhurst's first goal in the opening period.

Syracuse came out flying to start the game and jumped out in front 1-0 at the 6:50 mark of the opening period. After Mercyhurst got junior Stephanie DeSutter out of the penalty box to make it a 5-on-4 power play for the Orange, the Lakers could not get the puck out of their zone. An initial shot by Jacquie Greco was stopped by Pattenden, but Shiann Darkangelo was there to bang home the rebound for her fifth goal of the season. Lisa Mullan had the other assist.

The Lakers would respond at the 10:01 mark of the first period as Grenier slid a backhander past Syracuse goaltender Jenesica Drinkwater, tying the game at 1-1. Freshman Shelby Bram won a faceoff inside the offensive zone and Grenier capitalized for her fourth goal of the season. Bailey Bram had the other assist.

For Bram, it was her 200th career point, becoming the fourth player in Mercyhurst history to accomplish the feat, joining Meghan Agosta (303), Jesse Scanzano (225), and Valerie Chouinard (200).

Then, with time winding down in the opening twenty minutes, sophomore Christine Bestland, who was robbed on the doorstep earlier in the period, banged home a rebound during a Laker power play with 1:14 left, giving Mercyhurst its first lead of the game at 2-1. Bestland's 23rd goal of the season was assisted by freshman Molly Byrne and senior Jess Jones. Jones, with the assist, established a new career high with 47 points this season.

Mercyhurst outshot Syracuse 20-12 in the opening period.

Bestland then provided a highlight-reel goal near the midway mark of the second period. The sophomore from Brunkild, Manitoba picked up a loose puck just inside her own blue line and skated coast-to-coast, deked out a Syracuse defender between the legs, and lifted a shot over the shoulder of Drinkwater, giving the Lakers a 3-1 lead. It was her second power play goal of the game and her 24th goal of the season. Senior Pamela Zgoda had the lone assist on the goal.

However, the Orange would not go quietly. Again, right after a 5-on-3 Syracuse power play, an initial shot by Greco was stopped by Pattenden. The rebound hopped straight up in the air and landed behind the Laker goaltender. Darkangelo was there to tap it into the empty net, cutting the Mercyhurst lead to 3-2 with 7:17 left in the middle stanza.

Syracuse outshot Mercyhurst 15-11 in the second period. Pattenden had to make two saves right on the doorstep before the midway mark of the period to keep the Lakers ahead. She robbed Margot Scharfe early in the period and then did the same to Nicole Ferrara right after Bestland gave Mercyhurst a 3-1 lead.

Grenier recaptured the two-goal lead with her second goal of the game and fifth of the season at the 3:36 mark of the third period. She and Bailey Bram broke into the Syracuse zone on a 2-on-1 and Grenier elected to take the shot, which redirected off of the Syracuse defenseman and past Drinkwater for a 4-2 lead. Zgoda had the lone assist on the goal.

But, the pesky Darkangelo would again cut the lead to one with 5:19 left in regulation, completing the hat trick on the power play. She took a shot from the right wing corner, behind the goal line, that caromed off the back of Pattenden's helmet and across the goal line. Darkangelo, who had four goals all season coming in, had all three of her goals this afternoon on the power play. Jessica Sorensen and Greco had the helpers.

Syracuse was able to pull Drinkwater for an extra attacker with 40 seconds remaining, but the Laker defense held firm, helping Mercyhurst escape with the one-goal victory.

Pattenden stopped 32-of-35 shots in the contest, improving to 20-6-3 on the season. Nearly half (15 of 35) of Syracuse's shots came during the power play, in which the Orange were 3-of-8. Mercyhurst finished 2-of-6 with the skater advantage. Drinkwater made 38 saves in defeat for Syracuse.

Mercyhurst will attempt to win its 11th conference championship in a row on Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. The Lakers will play the hosts, Robert Morris, in the title game. The Colonials hung on to defeat Niagara 3-2 in the second semifinal game on Friday. Mercyhurst is 2-1-1 against Robert Morris this season.