CANTON, N.Y. - The #9/10 Mercyhurst University women's hockey team dropped its second straight decision at the hands of St. Lawrence University, 4-1, on Saturday afternoon at Appleton Arena. The Lakers dropped to 17-6-3 overall while the Saints improved to 14-8-3 on the season.
The Lakers, who fell to 1-4-1 over their last six games, were swept for the second time in the last three series. Mercyhurst dropped to 3-5-2 on the road this season and dropped to 12-15-2 lifetime against St. Lawrence in the all-time series.
Saturday's contest was tied at 1-1 until St. Lawrence scored three times in the final ten minutes of the third period - once into an empty-net - to skate away with the victory.
The hosts picked up where they left off Friday when Kayla Raniwsky scored her tenth goal of the season just 2:30 into the contest. Megan Armstrong had the lone assist. But, senior goaltender
Amanda Makela and the Lakers settled down after the early tally. St. Lawrence outshot Mercyhurst 15-10 in the first period, with the Saints only scoring on their third shot of the game.
Mercyhurst responded with 2:09 left in the second period as freshman
Jennifer MacAskill notched her second goal of the season to knot the contest at 1-1. Freshman
Sarah Robello and junior
J'nai Mahadeo had the assists on MacAskill's first goal since November 8 in a 4-1 loss at Syracuse.
The Lakers held an 8-5 shot advantage in the middle period.
The third period started quietly but ended with a flourish by St. Lawrence. Armstrong scored the eventual game-winner at 9:21 with an assist from Raniwsky. Kailee Heidersbach followed with her eighth goal of the season exactly three minutes later, which also forced Mercyhurst to use its timeout.
Head coach
Michael Sisti was able to pull Makela for an extra attacker with 2:30 left in regulation, but the Saints iced the contest when Jenna Marks scored her tenth of the season with 1:49 left.
St. Lawrence held a 12-9 shot advantage in the third period and outshot the Lakers 32-27 for the contest.
Makela fell to 17-6-3 overall with a 28-save performance. St. Lawrence netminder Carmen McDonald improved to 9-5-2 on the season with 26 saves.
With the Lakers losing by a combined score of 10-2 over the weekend, the eight-goal margin marked the most lopsided series loss since Dartmouth swept Mercyhurst by the finals of 11-1 and 5-2 on January 25 and 26, 2002.
Mercyhurst will look to get back on track when it travels down Interstate 79 to battle CHA-rival Robert Morris next Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31. Faceoffs are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. respectively.
