Box Score

Erie, Pa. – A career-high 35 saves by junior goaltender Amanda Makela and a hat trick by senior Christine Bestland led the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team past Penn State University 7-0.

The Lakers shutout improved their overall record to 11-5-2 in the season and captured their fourth College Hockey America win of the season (4-2-1). Penn State fell to 3-14-2 overall and 1-8-0 in the CHA.

Goaltender Amanda Makela made 35 saves to mark her career-high saves as a Mercyhurst Laker. Makela was tested the majority of the time in the third period as she made 18 saves to improve to 10-5-2 in the season and picked up her fifth shutout of the season.

Mercyhurst started the contest scoring early and often as Mercyhurst had a 3-0 lead after the opening period. Senior Kaleigh Chippy broke open the Lakers lead at the 5:48 mark of the first. Senior Christie Cicero created the offensive momentum early on after passing the puck to sophomore Emily Janiga. Janiga gave the puck to Chippy at the goal line who took an odd angled shot behind the back of Nittany Lions netminder Celine Whitlinger.

Sophomore Jenna Dingeldein scored her third power-play goal of the season at the 12:08 mark to add her sixth goal of the season. Dingeldein made the score 2-0 after taking another odd angle shot against Whitlinger after she made the initial save but then the puck snuck through her backside. Junior Shelby Bram and freshman Jillian Skinner marked the assists.

With just a minute left in the opening period, senior Christine Bestland scored her first of three goals on an even-strength goal. Sophomore Emily Janiga added her second assist of the night and tenth of the season after she gave Bestland a pass at the right faceoff circle. Bestland then carried the puck across the front of Whitlinger through a defenseman and into the back of the net, making the score 3-0.

Chippy added her second goal of the contest just 43 seconds into the middle period to continue the Lakers offense. The power-play goal gave Chippy her sixth goal of the season and third power-play goal to lead the team with Dingeldein. Chippy shot the puck to the top left corner of the net. Junior Molly Byrne and Janiga added the assists.

Freshman Paige Horton extended the lead to 5-0 at the 8:08 mark of the second period and tallied her first career goal at Mercyhurst. Despite being even-strength, Mercyhurst kept the pressure keeping the puck deep in the offensive zone. Horton was standing at the points and was delivered a puck by Dingeldein. Horton then ripped a shot from the right side which slide just under the glove of Whitlinger. Bestland also added the assist.

Bestland concluded the scoring in the second at 11:47 to mark her ninth goal of the season. Janiga tallied the lone assist.

The end of the second was full of four-on-four action with Mercyhurst outshooting Penn State 16 to 9 for a two period total of 32 to 17. The Nittany Lions Shannon Yoxheimer led Penn State in shots and tested Makela to her glove side numerous times.

Only one goal was scored in the third period, which marked Bestland's third goal of the contest. The short-handed goal was tallied at the 15:22 mark after Skinner led Bestland from the offensive end. Bestland continues to be the only Mercyhurst Lakers with a short-handed goal as she has two in the season.

Whitlinger made 34 saves despite the loss as Mercyhurst attempted a total of 41 shots on net to Penn State's 35.

Heading into the series, Bestland was shy five points of a career 200 points at Mercyhurst. With a four-point game, Bestland is now just one point away from the milestone.

Janiga made a career-high four assists in a contest to contribute to the shutout. Chippy added two goals in the victory while Dingeldein had a goal and an assist and Skinner had a career-high two assists in a game.

Both teams are back in action at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m. The final home game before the holiday season will mark the Lakers annual "Pink the Rink". Mercyhurst will wear their pink jerseys to support the cause and sell the game-worn jerseys after the contest for $100. All gate money, jersey sales, and 50/50 funds will be donated to the Linked By Pink of Erie organization.