ERIE, Pa. – Maggie Knott scored twice and Molly Blasen tallied the game-winning goal in the third period to send Mercyhurst past Syracuse 4-3 at Mercyhurst Ice Center on Saturday afternoon. The win marks Mercyhurst's second win in College Hockey America play.
 
The first period of play was played in just 22 minutes actual time. There were very few whistles and stoppages of play. One of those stoppages was for a goal scored, as Syracuse got on the board first. Stephanie Grossi scored with 1:26 remaining in the first with helpers from Alysha Burris and Emily Costales.
 
6:56 into the second period, Mercyhurst had a prime chance to tie the game. Megan Whiddon was interfered with by Dakota Derrer on her way to the goal and was awarded a penalty shot. Whiddon went to the forehand late on her attempt, but Abbey Miller made a sliding stop to keep the Lakers scoreless.
 
Mercyhurst eventually tied it up seconds past the halfway point in the period. Maggie Knott found the net with her shot with helpers from Sam Isbell and Jillian Skinner at the 10:28 mark to knot the game 1-1.
 
For the remainder of the second period, the Orange held the majority of possession and eventually regained the lead. Brooke Avery netted the Orange's second goal of the day at 13:36. Her goal was followed less than three minutes later by another score from Grossi to put Syracuse up 3-1 entering the final 20 minutes.
 
Mercyhurst began the third by killing a Syracuse power play and then had a chance of its own with an extra skater but were unable to convert. Nonetheless, the Lakers found a way to cut into the Orange lead thanks to Knott once again. Her second goal of the game came 5:06 into the third period with assists from Céline Frappier and Megan Whiddon to bring the score to 3-2 Syracuse.
 
Knott's second tally fired up the Lakers who kept on the attack to tie the game a minute later on the power play. Megan Quinn was sent to the box at 5:36 for cross checking, and 32 seconds into the power play, Isbell set up Samantha Fieseler's shot that whizzed past Miller to make it a 3-3 game.
 
After tying the game, the Lakers took a two separate penalties at 6:21 at 10:38 and had an important penalty kills to execute. The Lakers did just that, allowing only two shot attempts combined on both Syracuse power plays.
 
Mercyhurst bounced back on the offensive and scored the go-ahead goal late in the period. At 16:43, Molly Blasen ripped a shot over the shoulder of Miller to give the Lakers their first lead of the game 4-3. Knott and Rachael Smith had assists on the play.
 
Syracuse pulled Miller with 1:41 left to get an extra skater on the ice, but only managed one shot that was stopped by Lakers' goalie Jessica Convery to preserve the 4-3 comeback victory for Mercyhurst.
 
Head coach Michael Sisti was once again pleased with the effort to come back against a tough Syracuse team. "I'm extremely proud of our team," Sisti said. "We have a great tradition here and though the wins have been tough to come by so far, this team has played hard and their efforts paid off today."
 
Knott was the game's first star with a career-high three points on two goals and one assist. Blasen was second star after her game-winning goal. Rossi's two-goal game for Syracuse earned her third-star honors.
 
Mercyhurst travels to RPI in their next two-game series Friday Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19. Puck drop doe both contests will be at 3:00 p.m.