ERIE, Pa. – The seventh-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team spotted College Hockey America rival Lindenwood (Mo.) an early goal, then used special teams to outdistance the Lady Lions 6-2 Friday on "Teddy-Bear-Toss" night. The Lakers improved to 15-2-2 overall and 6-1 in CHA play. Lindenwood fell to 5-9-1 and 4-4-1 respectively.

Senior forward Alyssa West got the Lady Lions rolling three minutes into the first period when she slid one past Mercyhurst senior netminder Amanda Makela (15-2-2). The Lakers retaliated five minutes later when sophomore forward Megan Whiddon needed just 22 seconds of a power play to beat Lindenwood sophomore goalie Sarah McGall (0-1-0). Senior forward Shelby Bram and junior defender Lauren Kilroy helped. The teams went to their dressing rooms tied at 1-1 as the Lakers owned a sizeable 14-5 advantage in shots.

The Lakers took their first lead at 1:40 of the second when senior defenseman Molly Byrne collected a power play goal of her own with help from freshman Sarah Robello and junior J'nai Mahadeo. Before the Mercyhurst partisans had time to celebrate, however, the Lady Lions got the equalizer as freshman Britannia Gillanders beat Makela at 1:48. But, junior captain Emily Janiga restored the one-goal lead with the Lakers' third power play goal of the game at 6:11. The Lakers had an 11-7 shot advantage in the middle period, one which saw seven minor penalties assessed - four to the Lady Lions.

Mercyhurst put the game away with three unanswered tallies in the third. With Lindenwood on a carry-over power play from the second, junior forward Jenna Dingeldein took Janiga's pass in the neutral zone, skated in and lifted one by McGall to give Mercyhurst a two-goal lead. Whiddon cashed her second of the game, and the team's fourth power play goal, at 6:35, while Dingeldein completed a two-goal, one-assist night by scoring into an empty net at 18:17.

The Lakers had a 14-5 margin in shots in the third period and outdistanced Lindenwood 39-17 over 60 minutes. Mercyhurst finished 4-of-7 on the power play. The four extra-attacker goals, including one on a 5-on-3, were the most this season, eclipsing three scored in a 5-1 win at home over Minnesota State on October 24. Mercyhurst killed all four Lady Lions' power play attempts and have now averted 78 of 81 opponent opportunities to overtake Quinnipiac for the top spot nationally at .963.

All told, Mercyhurst scored four power play goals, a shorthanded, and an empty net.  Dingeldein's three-point-night gives her 98 in her career. Bram's two helpers give her 95. The Lakers improved to 12-0-1 lifetime against Lindenwood and now own a three-point lead in CHA over the second place Lady Lions and Syracuse, which was idle. The six Lakers' goals were the most this season and the six allowed by Lindenwood were the most since a 6-2 setback at Minnesota-Duluth October 26.

Makela won for the 47th time in her career while McGall was made her third career appearance and first career start.

Whiddon's first period power play goal produced a number of teddy bears on the ice, all of which will be donated to Toys for Tots.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The game will serve as the program's annual "Pink the Rink" day, with proceeds from the contest being donated towards breast cancer awareness and research.