Box Score

MOON TWP, Pa. – Three first-period goals by Robert Morris proved to be insurmountable on Saturday afternoon as the ninth-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team dropped a 3-2 decision at the RMU Island Sports Center. The Lakers fell to 6-4-1 on the season and 1-1-0 overall in College Hockey America action. Robert Morris improved to 9-3-0 overall and 3-1-0 in the CHA.

The Colonials scored early and often in the opening twenty minutes against junior netminder Amanda Makela, who entered the game having allowed just two goals in her last five starts. Robert Morris scored three times on 13 shots against Makela and forced Mercyhurst head coach Michael Sisti to make a change after the opening period.

The Colonials tallied two straight power-play goals by Katie Fergus and Rebecca Vint at the 1:14 and 3:26 marks respectively. Robert Morris' Kelsey Gunn finished the first period scoring at the 16:45 mark on an unassisted even-strength goal.

The goaltending change provided a bit of a spark for the Lakers as sophomore Julia DiTondo relieved Makela at the outset of the second period. Mercyhurst responded with a goal by sophomore Kathy Donohue just 1:13 into the middle frame. The power play tally was set up by sophomore Emily Janiga and senior Kaleigh Chippy.

Mercyhurst trailed 3-1 heading into the third period before Janiga scored nearly three minutes into the final period. Janiga's goal marked her 50th career point, after scoring 40 of those points as a rookie last season. Chippy and sophomore Jaclyn Arbour added the assists.

Sisti was able to pull DiTondo for an extra attacker in the waning seconds, but Mercyhurst was unable to get the equalizer against Robert Morris goaltender Jessica Dodds and the Colonials were able to hold off the Lakers' comeback bid.

Makela suffered the loss in net to drop to 6-4-1 on the season. The junior from Thunder Bay, Ontario still has a 1.73 goals against average and a .935 save percentage despite her early exit on Saturday. DiTondo relieved Makela for the final two periods and stopped all eight shots she faced. It was her first action of the season.

Dodds picked up the win for the Colonials after stopping 25 shots.

The game was marred by penalties, especially at the end of the contest when 77 minutes in penalties were handed out after the final buzzer. All told, the teams combined for 101 penalty minutes - 59 of those assessed to Mercyhurst. Robert Morris went 2-for-6 on the power play while the Lakers converted 1-of-4 opportunities.

The Lakers return to the Mercyhurst Ice Center for a weekend series against another conference rival, Syracuse University, on Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16. Game times are set for 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively.