Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – A third period Laker rally fell short as the #7 Mercyhurst University women's hockey team lost to Ohio State University in overtime, 4-3 Saturday night. With the loss, the Lakers are 1-2-0 in the early season. Ohio State improved to 1-0-0.

The game remained scoreless after one period of play as the Lakers were outshot nine to eight. Junior Molly Byrne had three of the Lakers eight shots on net.

Ohio State opened up the scoring early in the second period when Kari Schmitt registered her first goal of the season, soon after the Lakers killed a power-play. She was assisted by Ally Tarr and Sara Schmitt.

Schmitt scored her second goal at the 10:39 mark of the second to give her team a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. This time Claudia Kepler and Kendall Curtis tallied the assists.

Mercyhurst scored three goals in the third period, beginning with senior Christine Bestland just three minutes into the period. The Lakers were awarded a power-play at the 3:10 mark to give them the one man advantage. Bestland tallied her second goal of the season,shooting ithe puck past goaltender Chelsea Knapp to the top right corner of the goal.

Just two minutes later, senior Christie Cicero scored an even strength goal to tie the contest at two. Cicero received a pass from junior Shelby Bram to the left side of the ice. Cicero then raced towards the net, placing the floating puck above Knapp's glove. Bestland also had an assist.

The Buckeyes Kendall Curtis broke the momentum of the Lakers by scoring a go-ahead goal at the 8:40 mark. Curtis fired the puck past goaltender Amanda Makela after she received a centering pass from Tarr. Danielle Gagne had the second assist.

Junior Jenna Dingeldein forced overtime by scoring with just 2:05 left in regulation. Freshman Paige Horton intercepted an Ohio State pass in the defensive zone, blocking the puck right into the stick of sophomore Emily Janiga. Janiga found Dingeldein at the Ohio State line. Dingeldein raced down the offensive zone and slid the puck rbetween the pads of Knapp.

Janiga then hit the post in a last minute offensive rush with just 40 seconds left in regulation.

The Lakers outshot Ohio State 38 to 26 over three periods. The Buckeyes then got both shots in overtime, including the game winning goal scored by Taylor Kuehl just over two minutes into the extra session. Tarr and Schmitt notched the assists.

The Lakers hed Ohio State to zero for three on its power-play. They allowed only seven shots during the kills. Mercyhurst went one for four on its power-plays, taking eight shots on net.

Makela made 24 saves in the contest. Her record dropped to 1-2. Knapp picked up her first win of the season and made 35 saves. Ohio State freshman foward Katie Matheny is the daughter of St. Louis Cardinals' manager, Mike Matheny, who attended the game. The Cardinals are in Pittsburgh Sunday for the third game of the National League Division Series.

Mercyhurst will travel to Providence College on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday October 13 in Rhode Island. The puck will drop at 2:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively.