TROY, N.Y. – After falling behind early, the Mercyhurst women's hockey team scored four unanswered goals, including three in the second period, to beat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) 4-1 on the road Friday afternoon.
RPI was able to get on the board first close to the halfway point in the first period. After a Lakers' turnover in the neutral zone, Jaimie Grisgby went in towards goal and beat Lakers' goalie
Jessica Convery up high to give the Engineers a 1-0 lead at the 10:23 mark.
It didn't take long for Mercyhurst to bounce back and tie the game. After a holding penalty called against RPI, the Lakers went to the power play and their leading goal-scorer
Taylor Accursi lit the lamp. She redirected a shot from
Brooke Hartwick past RPI goalie Kira Bombay to tie the game at one with 8:52 remaining in the first period. It was Accursi's sixth goal overall and her fourth goal on the power play this season.
After the Accursi goal, Mercyhurst dominated chances offensively, registering the next 18 of 21 shot attempts for the remainder of the period. Entering the second period, the Lakers kept up the pressure and eventually took the lead. 5:50 into the period,
Nicole Guagliardo showcased another tip-in goal for Mercyhurst on a shot by
Molly Blasen to give Mercyhurst the 2-1 lead. The goal was Guagliardo's first of her collegiate career.
The Lakers extended their lead less than two minutes later at the 7:37 mark. Hartwick passed to
Sam Isbell in the center of the ice and Isbell got not one, but two chances on goal, with her second chance finding the back of the net. Isbell's second of the season put the Lakers ahead 3-1.
Mercyhurst continued their strong second period by lengthening its lead to three before the end of the period.
Jennifer MacAskill controlled the puck at center ice and entered the zone with speed. She beat the defender and wristed a shot over the goaltender's shoulders. MacAskill's first goal of the season put the Lakers up 4-1 with 5:19 remaining the second period. That same score carried over into the third period.
Mercyhurst bottled up the Engineers defensively in the third period and didn't allow many scoring opportunities for RPI. The Lakers dominated the shots-on-goal category 35-17 and were also dominant in the face-off circle, winning 34 of 53 draws.
The Lakers and Engineers will be back in action tomorrow, Nov. 19 at 3:00 p.m.
