ERIE, Pa. - One day after getting blanked at home for the first time since 2012, the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team bounced back with a 4-2 victory over visiting Northeastern University on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers improved to 4-1-1 on the young season while the Huskies suffered their first loss of year, dropping to 1-1-2.

It also marked the first time in five meetings that Mercyhurst has beaten Northeastern in the all-time series.

Junior Jaclyn Arbour's goal at the 15:13 mark of the third period snapped a 2-2 tie and put Mercyhurst ahead for good. Arbour skated around a couple of Northeastern defenders and walked in on Huskies' netminder Chloe Desjardins, beating her with a shot just under the crossbar for the game-winning tally. Junior Emily Janiga added an empty net goal with just over 12 seconds left in regulation to seal the victory.

It was Arbour's first goal of the season and was her second career game-winning marker.

After a scoreless first period, junior Hannah Bale put Mercyhurst on the board at the 8:13 mark of the second with her first goal of the season, and just the third goal of her career. Bale received an outlet pass from Arbour, got a step on the Northeastern defense, and, despite being hounded from behind for much of her rush, was able to beat Desjardins past the glove hand for the Lakers' first lead of the weekend.

Bale's goal proved to be the only goal of the opening forty minutes, with Mercyhurst holding a slim 18-16 advantage in shots through the first two periods.

Both teams exchanged two goals apiece in a 4:20 span in the third period as the offenses figured out the opposing goaltenders. Northeastern's Halle Silva broke up senior Amanda Makela's shutout bid with 9:07 left in the third period, jamming home a rebound for her first goal of the season. Taytum Clairmont and Denisa Krizova had the assists.

Senior Shelby Bram regained the one-goal lead for the Lakers at the 12:30 mark, stuffing home a loose puck at the side of the Northeastern goal for her first tally of the season. Juniors Jenna Dingeldein and J'nai Mahadeo had the assists. With the goal, Bram is just 11 points away from reaching the century mark in her career.

Just 38 seconds later, Lauren Kelly beat Makela with a shot from the top of the point to knot the contest at 2-2. Chelsiea Goll and Ainsley MacMillan had the assists on Kelly's second goal of the weekend.

Arbour's game-winner was assisted by junior Kathy Donohue and freshman Brooke Hartwick while freshman Sarah Robello had the assist on Janiga's empty-netter - her fourth goal of the season. Janiga is also just 11 points shy of reaching 100 points in her collegiate career.

Makela improved to 4-1-1 with a 21-save performance between the pipes for the Lakers. Desjardins stopped 28 in suffering her first loss of the season (1-1-2). Mercyhurst outshot Northeastern, 32-23, including a 26-12 margin over the final forty minutes.

Mercyhurst returns home next Friday, October 24, and Saturday, October 25, for a weekend series against Minnesota State-Mankato at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Friday's faceoff is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. while Saturday's tilt is slated for 2:00 p.m. Both games are the first games of hockey doubleheaders at the MIC next weekend, with the men's team also in action against Merrimack at 7:05 p.m. both nights. Meanwhile, Saturday's women's game is also the annual Beef & Beatles fundraiser.