Box Score
ERIE, Pa. – The ninth ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team advanced to the championship game of the College Hockey America Tournament by beating Robert Morris 2-1 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center Friday. The Lakers improved to 27-6-1 this season, and advanced to the conference championship game for the 12
th consecutive year. Robert Morris completed its season with an overall record of 15-15-3.
Senior goaltender
Stephanie Ciampa picked up her ninth straight win and improved to 18-1-0 this season. Ciampa stopped 25 of 26 RMU shots.
The contest was scoreless after the first 20 minutes of play. The Lakers outshot the Colonials 11-to-7 in the first period and had two power-play opportunities.
Halfway through the second period, senior assistant captain
Lauren Jones scored her 14th goal of the season. Junior
Kaleigh Chippy cycled the puck to senior
Stephanie DeSutter at the point. DeSutter then fed the puck to Jones who was open in front of the Colonials' netminder Kristen DiCiocco. Jones pulled the puck across her body and slid it past DiCiocco.
Robert Morris outshot Mercyhurst 11-to-7 in the second, but trailed by a goal after 40 minutes.
Robert Morris still trailed 1-0 and was forced to pull DiCiocco with 1:10 left in regulation. With under a minute left, freshman
Jenna Dingeldein's shot near center ice hit the post. Dingeldein chased down the rebound and centered it to junior forward Christine Bestland who tapped it into the empty net .
Robert Morris pulled DiCiocco again and got a goal with 24 seconds remaining. But the Colonials' rally fell short .
Both teams were held 0-for-4 on the power-play, as Robert Morris outshot the Lakers 26-to-25. DiCiocco made 23 saves and finished the season with an overall record of 13-13-3.
The Lakers will play second-seed Syracuse University Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Syracuse advanced with a 2-1 win in overtime against RIT.
To catch all the tournament action, please click
here.
To view photos of today's action, please click
here.
