ERIE, Pa. – A long homestand ended with five straight wins as the #7/8 Mercyhurst University women's hockey team defeated College Hockey America (CHA) opponent Robert Morris 4-1 Saturday afternoon to complete a weekend sweep. The Lakers outscored their opponents 18-5 in the streak as they improved to 8-1-1 overall and to 2-0 in CHA play. The Colonials fell to 3-8-1 and 0-2 respectively.

Robert Morris, held to 16 shots in a 3-0 loss Friday night, outshot the Lakers 15-4 in the opening period, but couldn't solve Mercyhurst senior netminder Amanda Makela. Makela recorded her 13^th career shutout (and fourth of the season) Friday. The Colonials had a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:41 late in the period but couldn't light the lamp.

Early in the second, however, sophomore defender Mikaela Lowater's first collegiate goal, at 2:14, gave the Colonials the lead. Her blast, from the top of the face-off circles, eluded Makela over her left shoulder. But about 90 seconds later, following a Robert Morris penalty, junior forward Emily Janiga tied the game with her seventh of the year and fourth power play. She was set up by junior J'nai Mahadeo and senior Molly Byrne. The Lakers used just 14 seconds of the power play to notch the equalizer. Less than three minutes later, Dingledein intercepted a Colonial pass in her defensive zone, carried the puck into the RMU zone on right wing, and beat senior netminder Courtney Vinet on a shot along the ice to the far side. The goal ended the scoring in the second and proved to be the game-winner. It was Dingledein's third goal of the season and second game-winner. Mercyhurst outshot Robert Morris 19-7 in the middle period.

The final period was back-and-forth until senior forward Shelby Bram scored a highlight-reel goal with eight minutes left. Caroline Luczak cleared the zone and hit Bram, who took the puck up the ice, undressed a Colonial defender and beat Vinet on a backhander while falling. Janiga then collected her second of the game and eighth of the season into an empty net with under ten seconds to play.

Mercyhurst finished the game with a 35-27 shot advantage and was 1 for 4 on the power play. The Colonials were 0 for 4 with the skater advantage and 0 for 8 in the two games. The Lakers have now killed 37 of 38 penalties this season. Makela, who won both games this weekend between the pipes, is now 8-1-1 on the season. Saturday's win was the 40^th in her career.

Four Lakers continue to climb toward the 100-pont plateau for their careers. Senior Molly Byrne had two assists Saturday and is now within three points of the century mark. Janiga's pair of goals pushed her point total to 94. Bram's goal moved her to 91 career points while Dingledein's goal and assist moved her to within eleven.

Head coach Michael Sisti, meanwhile, continued his march to 400 career wins, all at Mercyhurst. Saturday's win was his 395^th.

The Lakers have now won three straight over Robert Morris and lead the all-time series 34-7-1.   

Mercyhurst will continue conference play next weekend with a pair of games at Syracuse.