Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – Junior Christie Cicero scored early in the third period to give the seventh ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team a 1-0 edge over CHA-foe Syracuse.  The Lakers improved to 15-3-1 in the season and 7-2 in the College Hockey America (CHA).  Syracuse dropped to 10-9-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the CHA.
 
The 1-0 victory was the first time the Lakers had won a 1-0 contest at home since December 2, 2006 when the Lakers blanked Princeton 1-0 in overtime. 
 
Sophomore goaltender Amanda Makela recorded her second conference shutout this season and third of her career. She recorded 24 saves against the Orange and improved to 6-2-1 this season. 
 
The contest was scoreless for the first two periods as the Lakers outshot the Orange 12-to-9 in the first twenty minutes and 8-to-6 in the middle frame. The Lakers had five power-play opportunities and Syracuse four over forty minutes of action, but Orange goaltender Kallie Billadeau and Makela stood tall between the pipes, thwarting every scoring attempt.
 
Cicero finally solved Billadeau at 3:08 of the third, registering her second game-winner of the season.  Junior captain Christine Bestland notched her 28th assist this season as the duo came in, two-on-one.  Bestland faked a shot and passed to Cicero, who beat Billadeau to the top left side of the net.  The goal marked Cicero's tenth goal this season.
 
Despite pulling its goalie with 51 seconds left in the contest, Syracuse couldn't get the equalizer. The Orange outshot the Lakers 9-to-5 in the third.  Billadeau posted 24 saves in the loss, as her record fell to 7-5-0. 
 
The Lakers stopped all five power-play opportunities for the Orange, and had an overall shot advantage of 25-to-24.  Cicero and junior Kaleigh Chippy led the Lakers with five shots apiece.  Bestland and sophomore Vaila Higson attempted three shots each.

The two teams faceoff again tomorrow, Saturday, January 12 to end the weekend series.  The puck is set to drop at 2:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.