Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – The ninth-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team defeated RIT Saturday 5-2 in its final regular season contest at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.  The Lakers won their fifth straight game and improved to 26-6-1 overall and 17-3-0 in the conference as they head into the CHA playoffs.  RIT fell to 14-15-5 overall and 7-8-5 in the conference.
 
Before the game, six Mercyhurst seniors were recognized for their efforts throughout the four years of their college careers.  Senior Lauren Jones received the Bill Smith Award, which is given to a senior women's hockey player who exhibits exemplary qualities in the classroom, community, and on the ice.
 
RIT started off the game strong, looking for redemption from Friday nights 4-1 loss against the Lakers.  The Tigers outshot and outscored the Lakers in the first period, outshooting Mercyhurst 14-to-7.  Marissa Maugeri tallied the first Tiger goal at 12:16 into the first.  Erin Zach and Jess Paton added the assists.  Two minutes later, Tenecia Miller scored off a pass from Kim Schilattman to give RIT the two goal advantage. 
 
Senior Stephanie DeSutter jump-started the Lakers offense at 8:13 into the second period.  DeSutter tallied her seventh goal of the season on the only Mercyhurst power-play goal of the afternoon.  33 seconds later, senior Jenna Hendrikx slipped the puck past RIT goaltender Alli Binnington to pick up her seventh goal of the season and tie the contest at 2. 
 
Mercyhurst exploded through the second period, attempting 17 shots on net to RIT's four.  
 
About seven minutes into the third, junior Christie Cicero scored her 12th goal of the season and her third game-winner.  Cicero, who had missed the last seven games because of injury, took a pass from senior Kelsey Welch to the right side of Binnington.  Cicero then brought it across the crease and back handed the puck above Binnington's top left shoulder. 
 
Senior Gina Buquet picked up her fifth goal of the season less than two minutes later to give the Lakers a 4-2 lead.  Junior Kayleigh Chippy and sophomore Vaila Higson notched the assists. 
 
Trailing by two, RIT pulled its goaltender with less than a minute to play.  But senior Kelsey Welch took a shot right off a faceoff and knocked the puck into an empty net from 100 feet away to seal the 5-2 victory. 
 
Senior Stephanie Ciampa picked up her eighth straight win and improved to 17-1-0 in the season.  She allowed only two goals on 20 shots.  Binnington fell to 9-9-4 in net for RIT, making 33 saves on 38 shots.
 
Mercyhurst outshot RIT 38-to-20 for the sixty minutes after being outshot 14 to 7 in the first period.  The Lakers were 1-for-7 on their power-play and held RIT to 0-for-5. 
 
Senior Kelsey Welch tallied a goal and two assists for three points in today's contest.  Sophomore Vaila Higson added four helpers throughout the weekend series, while freshman Jenna Dingeldein had a goal and three assists for four points.  Junior Christine Bestland now has 98 assists in her career.
 
By winning the CHA regular season title, the Lakers have a bye in the first round of the CHA playoffs.  Syracuse also received a bye for finishing second.  The semifinals and championship game will take place at the Mercyhurst Ice Center On March 8 and March 9.  Opponents and times are to be determined.