Erie, Pa. - It was a terrific Valentine's Day for the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team. The Lakers clinched another College Hockey America (CHA) regular season crown by blanking second-place Penn State for the second straight day Saturday afternoon, this time by a score of 4-0. Mercyhurst, winners of four successive games, improved to 22-7-3 overall and 13-4-1 in the conference. The Nittany Lions, blanked 2-0 in Friday afternoon's opening game, left Erie 15-13-4 and 9-7-2 respectively.
After a scoreless and evenly-played first period (both teams had eight shots-on-goal), Bram converted a Mercyhurst power play chance at 9:34 of the second. Bram's sixth goal of the season, and second power play tally of the series, was helped by junior
Jenna Dingeldein and freshman
Sarah Robello. Leading scorer
Emily Janiga expanded the lead to 2-0 when she cashed another power play opportunity at 17:49 of the middle period. The junior forward's 25th goal of the season was helped by Bram and Byrne. The Lakers dominated the middle period, outshooting the Nittany Lions 18-1.
The lead remained at two goals until late in the third period when Janiga scored her second of the game, this time from Dingeldein and sophomore
Jillian Skinner, at 15:58. Dingeldein closed the scoring at 19:58 with her 17th of the year, and her second shorthanded goal of the weekend, into an empty net. Bram completed a three-point effort with the lone assist.
The Lakers owned a 14-9 margin in third period shots and a 40-18 advantage for the sixty minutes. Mercyhurst finished 2 of 5 on the power play and killed all seven Nittany Lion power play opportunities.
The Lakers improved to 11-2 lifetime against Penn State and atoned, convincingly, for 2-1 and 5-3 losses at Penn State in December. Mercyhurst has now won all seven games against the Nittany Lions at home and has outscored PSU 50-1 in the process.
Amanda Makela (19-7-3) recorded her 51st career win and 17th career shutout, eight this season. Junior Celine Whitlinger (11-8-1) took her second loss to the Lakers in as many days.
Mercyhurst will close the regular season next weekend at conference-rival Lindenwood. The Lakers will host the CHA Final Four at the Ice Center March 6 and March 7.
Notes: Makela's eighth shutout this season tied a one-season record held by Mercyhurst Athletic Hall-of-Famer Desi Clark in 2001-02….Bram, Dingeldein and Janiga each contributed two goals and two assists in the weekend series against Penn State…Bram's goal Saturday was her first game-winner of the season…The Lakers outshot Penn State a combined 76-29 in the two games, totaled three power play, and two shorthanded goals, and blanked Penn State in ten power play opportunities…Janiga now has four-straight two-point games…Robello now has a point in four of the last five games…the Lakers are now 18-2-1 when scoring first and 17-0-1 when ahead after two periods.
