Box Score

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Mercyhurst University women's hockey team ended the last day of January with a 3-2 College Hockey America win at Syracuse. The Lakers, ranked 10th nationally, improved to 16-7-3 overall and to 9-3-1 in the CHA. The Orange dropped to 14-10-2 and 6-5-2 respectively.

Mercyhurst opened the scoring late in the first period when sophomore Hannah Bale notched her first collegiate goal at 17:43, beating Syracuse netminder, Jenesica Drinkwater (10-3-0). Bale's lamplighter was assisted by junior defenseman Molly Byrne. Despite outshooting Syracuse 18-5 in the first twenty minutes, Bale's goal was the only one the Lakers could generate in the period.

Syracuse tied the game early in the middle frame when Melissa Piacentini beat Mercyhurst junior Amanda Makela (14-6-3). Mercyhurst responded by building a two-goal advantage later in the period when senior forwards Christie Cicero and Kaleigh Chippy found the back of the net at 11:53 and 15:39. Junior Caroline Luczak helped on Cicero's goal while leading scorer, senior Christine Bestland, and sophomore Emily Janiga helped pad the lead to 3-1. Shots were even at 14 aside in the second.

Bestland now has 39 points this season giving her 211 points for her career. She trails only Jesse Scanzano and Meghan Agosta on the program's career scoring list. Meanwhile, Cicero's goal moved her to within nine points of reaching the century mark for her career.

The game remained 3-1 until 16:09 of the third when Larissa Martyniuk cashed a power play goal. The Orange pulled Drinkwater in the last minute for an extra attacker to no avail. Syracuse owned a 16-6 shot advantage in the third but Mercyhurst was three better for 60 minutes, 38-35.

The Lakers failed on four power play chances, while Syracuse finished one for four.

Cicero, the game's first star, has now scored at least one point in 10 of her last eleven games (7g, 8a) while Janiga extended her current streak to five games (2g, 4a). Mercyhurst improved to 25-0-2 lifetime against Syracuse. The Lakers went 1-0-1 at the Ice Center earlier in the season, playing to a 3-3 overtime tie November 15 before prevailing 5-3 the next day.

Despite the win, the Lakers remained two points behind conference-leading Robert Morris in the standings. The Colonials defeated Lindenwood in suburban St. Louis, Missouri on Friday night by a 6-1 final.

The two teams will conclude the weekend Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.