Box Score

ERIE, Pa. – Three power-play goals propelled the tenth ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team passed Rochester Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers took away a 5-2 victory over the Tigers to capture their fifth straight win.

Mercyhurst is now 19-7-3 on the season and improved to 12-3-1 in the College Hockey America conference with just four regular season games remaining. RIT fell to 13-14-3 overall and are now 8-6-2 in the CHA.

The Lakers outshot RIT 42 to 16 throughout the entire contest including a game-high 17 shots in the second period. The Lakers were also 3 for 5 on the power-play for a series total of 4 for 6 (66%). On the penalty-kill, Mercyhurst allowed just one power-play goal in the ten power-plays for RIT (90%).

It was if Mercyhurst did not lose any momentum from the evening before at senior Kaleigh Chippy scored the first of three power-play goals almost two minutes into the opening period. RIT slipped up an early penalty to give Mercyhurst an extra attacker early on.

Sophomore J'nai Mahadeo cycled the puck from the point below to junior Shelby Bram. Bram then found a open slot to Chippy who was stationed in front of the crease. RIT netminder Brook Stoddart made the initial save but Chippy finished five hole on her own rebound.

Before the end of the first, senior Christie Cicero extended the lead on their second power-play goal of the period at the 14:27 mark. Cicero marked her 14th goal of the season after connecting passes from sophomores Jenna Dingeldein and Emily Janiga. The Lakers went 2 for 2 on power-play opportunities in the first period which paid off as the Lakers led 2-0.

RIT tallied their first goal of the contest at the 1:59 mark of the second period on an even strength goal. The Tiger's leading scorer Marissa Maugeri scored her ninth goal of the season. Erin Zach and Lindsay Grigg were awarded the assists.

Sophomore Kathy Donohue made the score 3-1 at the 7:01 mark after senior Christine Bestland and junior Molly Byrne generated an offensive rush from the neutral zone. The goal marked Donohue's seventh of the season. With the assist, Byrne extended her point streak to a career high seven games.

RIT tallied their second goal of the period and final goal of the contest on their only power-play goal of the series. At the 16:31 mark Kolbee McCrea scored after handling the puck through the crease and lifted the backhander to the top right corner of the net. Maugeri picked up her second point of the game on the assist.

Dingeldein finished the power-play scoring at the 4:25 mark of the third period to mark her 13th goal of the season. The power-play goal was assisted by junior Caroline Luczak and Cicero.

RIT pulled their goalie within the final 1:45 but it did not last long as Mercyhurst regained procession of the puck just seconds later. Sophomore Jaclyn Arbour completed the scoring with an empty net goal at the 18:25 mark. Abour's empty net goal was her fourth goal of the season.

Goaltender Amanda Makela improved to 17-6-3 on the season after allowing two goals on 16 shots faced. Stoddart played in just her fifth start as a freshman (1-3-1) and allowed five goals and stopped 37 shots.

All told, Dingeldein led the team throughout the series with five points on two goals and three assists. Bestland collected a four point weekend while Byrne extended her point streak to seven games after capturing three assists in the series.

Cicero also collected three assists to extend her point streak to five games. She is now five points shy of the century mark with four regular season contests to play. This season, Cicero is third on the team with 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points.

Mercyhurst heads to Penn State for their final road series of the regular season. The series will begin on Saturday, February 15 with an 8:00 p.m. faceoff. The series will conclude on Sunday, February 16 at 1:00 p.m.