Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – Freshman Emily Janiga collected her second collegiate hat trick to give the seventh-ranked Mercyhurst women's hockey team a 4-1 win over Syracuse University on Saturday afternoon.  The Lakers improved to 16-3-1 in the season and 8-2 in the College Hockey America (CHA).   Syracuse falls to an overall record of 10-10-1 and 4-3-1 in the CHA.
 
Today's victory marked the 350th career win for head coach Michael Sisti.  Coach Sisti has been the only coach in the history of the program, dating back to 1999.  The Lakers became the third fastest program in women's Division I history to achieve 350 victories by doing so in just 474 games.  New Hampshire (437) and Minnesota (461) are the only two programs to reach 350 faster.
 
Sophomore Amanda Makela made a career-high 29 saves against the Orange.  Makela recorded her second straight win and improved to 7-2-1 in the season. 
 
The Lakers were the first to dent the board when Janiga scored her first goal on a power-play at 12:27 into the first period.  Junior captain Christine Bestland and junior Christie Cicero tallied the assists.  The Lakers dominated the first period, outshooting the Orange 12-to-6 and headed into the dressing room with a 1-0 lead.
 
Janiga scored two more goals in the second period.  She took no time scoring her second goal of the game less than two minutes into the second.  Bestland had her second assist of the afternoon while freshman Jenna Dingeldein notched her first.  Janiga's third goal was also on the power-play and came at 5:33. 
 
Mercyhurst killed a full 2-minute 5-on-3 Syracuse power-play half-way through the second.  Syracuse scored its lone goal of the weekend on another 5-on-3 opportunity at 17:19 in the second, narrowing the gap to 3-1.  Orange forward Jacquie Greco scored her sixth goal of the season.  Syracuse Brittney Krebs and Melissa Piacentini had the assists.  The Orange owned a 16-to-12 shot advantage in the middle period.
 
Sophomore Shelby Bram restored the three goal lead 2:29 into the third period.  Bram tallied her seventh goal of the season, while Kristine Grenier and Lauren Kilroy had the assists.
 
Orange goaltender Kallie Billadeau, who surrendered only one goal Friday, suffered the loss, making 34 saves.  Her record fell to 7-6-0.
 
All-told the Lakers attempted 38 shots on net to Syracuse's 30.  Mercyhurst killed 11 of 12 penalties .  The last time the Lakers had to kill off 12 or more penalties was back on October 9, 2012 when Mercyhurst killed 13-of-14 penalties to beat Maine 5-2. 
 
Bestland had three assists in the weeeknd sweep, while Cicero notched a goal and two assists.  Cicero currently owns a four game point streak, making it the longest in her career.
 
The Lakers will host No. 3 Boston College next weekend at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.  The puck is set to drop Friday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m.  The following weekend the Lakers will host their annual Pink the Rink at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday, January 25 at 3:00 p.m.