Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – A team effort from the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team contributed to the 5-3 win over the eighth-ranked Robert Morris University on Saturday afternoon.  The Lakers improved to 15-7-3 on the season and 8-3-2 in the College Hockey America Conference.  Robert Morris fell to 20-4-2 on the season and are 9-2-1 in the CHA.
 
The Lakers were all offense throughout the entire first period after tallying a season-high 17 shots on net in the opening 20 minutes.  The Lakers also set a season-high by not allowing a single shot on net from the Colonials.
 
Robert Morris goaltender Jessica Dodds however did not let a single shot past until a power-play goal at the 10:14 mark.  Senior Christie Cicero tallied her 12^th goal of the season from a shot at the right point into traffic in front of the Robert Morris net.  Junior Molly Byrne and sophomore Jenna Dingeldein contributed on the assists.
 
With less than a minute remaining in the first, sophomore Emily Janiga scored her 13th goal of the season on an even-strength goal. Dingeldein was again in the mix on the offensive rush as she passed the puck this time to senior Christine Bestland who originally took the shot to the pads of Dodds.  With the goal, Janiga is now tied for first on the team in goals this season.
 
Robert Morris was allowed just nine shots throughout the second period and collected two goals with the first one scored by Rebecca Vint at the 9:09 mark.  With a penalty filled second, Vint scored her first of three goals on the power-play.  Kristen Richards and Thea Imbrogno were awarded the assists.
 
With a five-on-three opportunity the Lakers generated another burst of offense by scoring back-to-back power-play goals within 30 seconds of each other.  First junior Shelby Bram added her seventh goal of the season after scoring from a scrum in front of Dodds.  Both Byrne and Bestland were awarded their second assists of the evening. 
 
Mercyhurst continued their power-play opportunity but senior Kaleigh Chippy wasted no time getting her team another goal at the 15:18 mark of the second.  Bram battled behind the Robert Morris net with a Colonials defenseman and once again came up with the puck along the boards.  Bram then passed it to Chippy who was on the right side of the net and shot the puck to the top right corner. 
 
Less than a minute later, Robert Morris was awarded a power-play opportunity of their own for Vint to cut the lead 4-2 before the end of the period.  Imbrogno added her second assist of the evening on the power-play goal at the 16:51 mark.
 
All told, Mercyhurst had eight penalties for 16 minutes throughout the second while Robert Morris tallied six penalties for 12 minutes.  With the mix of four-on-four action, Robert Morris was awarded six power-play opportunities alone in the second while Mercyhurst had four.
 
Senior Kaleigh Chippy wasted no time getting her second goal of the night after adding the Lakers second even-strength goal just ten seconds into the final period.  Her eleventh goal of the season also marked her 25^th career goal between Niagara University and Mercyhurst.
 
Robert Morris' forward Vint scored her third goal to complete the hat trick at the 4:00 minute mark but the Lakers continued the pressure to outshoot the Colonials 13 to 11.  Imbrogno added her third assist of the game while Anneline Lauziere added her first. 
 
Despite being outshot 36 to 20 throughout the entire contest, Robert Morris did not let up and pulled their goalie with 1:21 left in regulation.  The Colonials managed to keep the puck in their offensive zone but blocked shots from the Lakers sealed the 5-3 victory.
 
Junior Amanda Makela improved to 13-6-3 on the season after making 17 saves from the 20 shots on net.  Robert Morris goaltender Jessica Dodds (17-1-2) suffered her first loss on the season after allowing five goals on 36 shots faced. 
 
Mercyhurst will travel to Syracuse University to battle the Orange on Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1.  Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. respectively.