ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst University women's hockey team is still searching for its first victory of the young season after dropping a 3-2 decision to the visiting Tigers of Princeton University on Friday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. It was Princeton's first game of the season while the Lakers dropped to 0-4-1 overall.

The 0-4-1 record by the Lakers is the program's worst start through five games since the 2000-01 season - Mercyhurst's second season of women's varsity hockey. That season, the Lakers finished with their only losing record in program history - 14-16-3 - and started 0-6-2 before picking up their first win of the year.

Mercyhurst dominated the play early on but it was Princeton that struck first on the scoreboard. Morgan Sly scored the Tigers' first goal of the 2015-16 season, converting a 2-on-1 opportunity with a shot that beat Mercyhurst sophomore goaltender Jessica Convery at the 15:29 mark of the first period. Karlie Lund and Audrey Potts had the assists.

The Lakers came back to knot the contest at 1-1 with just 44 seconds left in the opening period when senior Emily Janiga snapped a shot past Princeton netminder Kimberly Newell from the left wing circle. Janiga's team-leading fourth goal of the season was assisted by freshmen linemates Rachael Smith and Sarah Hine.

Mercyhurst outshot Princeton, 14-6, in the opening twenty minutes.

Potts gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead just 2:30 into the second period as her redirection from a centering feed trickled through the legs of Convery and into the back of the net. Sly and Stephanie Sucharda had the assists. Again, the Lakers responded late in the frame. Smith scored her second goal of the season, swatting home a rebound with 36 seconds left in the middle stanza. Hine and junior defenseman Jillian Skinner had the helpers.

Shots favored Princeton in the second period, 12-7.

Cristin Shanahan gave the Tigers their third one-goal lead of the contest at the 11:21 mark of the third period which proved to be the game-winner as the Lakers could not get the equalizer for the third time. Molly Contini and Kelsey Koelzer had the assists on Shanahan's goal. Mercyhurst was able to pull Convery, but a minor penalty assessed to the Lakers with 1:12 left in regulation, thwarted a better scoring opportunity down the stretch.

Mercyhurst outshot Princeton, 9-6, in the third period and held a 30-24 shot advantage over the course of the contest.

Convery dropped to 0-3-0 on the season after stopping 21-of-24 Princeton shots. Newell turned aside 28-of-30 Mercyhurst shots on goal. Neither team was able to convert on special teams - Princeton was 0-for-4 on the power play while the Lakers were 1-for-3.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.