Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – Four third period goals broke open a tight game and propelled the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team to a 6-2 win over The University of Western Ontario on Saturday evening. The contest marked the Lakers first of two exhibition games that are played over the weekend.

The tams were scoreless after one period of action. The Lakers had a 13-9 shot advantage, but Western Ontario goaltender Kelly Campbell was flawless. The Lakers took three successive penalties in theperiod and were forced to kill an extended 5-on-3 situation.

Senior assistant captain Christie Cicero marked the first power-play goal of the game at just five minutes into the second period. Junior assistant captains Caroline Luczak and Shelby Bram picked up the assists at the 5:02 mark. Cicero then collected her second straight goal, shortly thereafter, unassisted, to stake Mercyhurst to a 2-0 lead.

Western Ontario whittled the lead just two minutes later. Mustangs' Brittany Clapham snuck the puck past sophomore goaltender Julia DiTondo at the 12:05 mark of the second.

 Mercyhurst outshot Western Ontario 17 to 4 in the second and had a commanding 30 to 13 advantage for forty minute.

Senior captain Christine Bestland was the early star in the third, scoring a shorthanded goal at the 8:55 mark.

The Mustangs' Tara Cation scored an unassisted power-play goal just a minute later, but goals by Bestland (15:09), freshman Jillian Skinner (17:41), and senior Kaleigh Chippy (19:44) sealed the 6-2 triumph.

Cicero, Bestland, Bram, and Chippy all tallied two points in their first preseason bout. Skinner marked her first point in a Mercyhurst uniform.

Junior Amanda Makela started in net for Mercyhurst, and made nine first period saves. DiTondo relieved Makela, and allowed two goals in seven shots faced through the remainder of the game.

Western Ontario's Campbell allowed two goals in 30 shots faced. Olivia Ross made an appearance in the third period, and allowed the final four Mercyhurst goals in 24 shots faced.

Mercyhurst will continue its preseason journey on Sunday, September 22 when it hosts the Whitby Wolves. The puckwill drop will at 1:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.