Box Score Box Score

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The eighth-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team collected their sixth shutout of the season to beat Penn State 4-0 Saturday evening. 
 
The Lakers improved to 20-7-3 on the season and are now 13-3-1 in the College Hockey America Conference. Also with the win, the Lakers collected their sixth consecutive win.  Penn State fell to 4-24-3 on the season and 1-15-1 in the CHA. 
 
Senior Christine Bestland tallied her fourth shorthanded goal this season and third game-winning goal to give her team a 1-0 lead in the first period.  The shorthanded goal came after the Lakers had to kill off a penalty at the 8:30 mark into the first period.  Bestland was assisted by sophomore Emily Janiga.  Bestland is now the leader in the country in shorthanded goals this season.
 
The Lakers extended their lead 3-0 after two goals in the middle period by the senior class.  Senior Kaleigh Chippy started off the scoring at the 6:57 mark to tally her 14th goal of the season.  She was assisted by sophomore J'nai Mahadeo and junior Shelby Bram. 
 
Six minutes later, Senior Christie Cicero tallied her first point of the contest at the 12:27 mark.  The third goal of the contest marked Cicero's 14th of the season as Chippy marked her second point of the game.  Freshman Jillian Skinner ended her pointless drought for the second assist.
 
The Lakers tallied their only power-play goal of the contest in the final period to finish 1-for-4 with the extra attacker.  Janiga scored at the 15:45 mark of the third to finish the Mercyhurst scoring with a 4-0 lead.  Cicero and Bestland both marked their second points of the contest on the assists.
 
Junior Amanda Makela stopped 18 shots to pick up her sixth shutout of the season including stopping five shots on the Nittany Lions power-play.  Makela improved to 18-6-3 on the season and is now tied for second in the nation in shutouts this season.  Penn State's Celine Whitlinger fell to 3-10-1 after making 30 saves.
 
The Lakers outshot Penn State 34 to 18 throughout the three periods.  Bestland and junior Molly Byrne led the team with five shots on net while Cicero contributed four shots. 
 
With the two points, Cicero is now just three points away from a career 100 points at Mercyhurst University. 
 
Both teams meet back at center ice in the Pegula Ice Arena on Sunday, February 16 at 1:00 p.m.