TROY, N.Y. – The Mercyhurst women's hockey team scored a season-high seven goals to roll the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 7-1 in non-conference road action on Saturday afternoon.
 
Contrary to Friday, it was Mercyhurst getting on the board first on Saturday. Brooke Hartwick received the puck below the goal line after Michelle Robillard and Jennifer MacAskill cycled the puck in the RPI zone. Hartwick threw the puck from a sharp angle towards the net and it bounced in to give the Lakers the 1-0 lead 1:52 into the first period.
 
It took RPI only 19 seconds to bounce back to tie the score. 2:11 into the period, Marisa Raspa buried a loose puck in front of Sarah McDonnell after an aggressive RPI forecheck to tie the game 1-1.
 
Mercyhurst came right back with an aggressive forecheck of its own to retake the lead in the first period. Megan Whiddon netted her second goal of the season on a rebound to put Mercyhurst on top 2-1 with 15:40 remaining in the first period.
 
The Laker extended its lead with three more goals in the first period. First, Rachael Smith deflected a tough-angled shot from Sam Isbell at the 5:42 mark in the period. Then Nicole Guagliardo netted her second goal in as many days on the power play at the 15:26 mark. The Lakers then cashed in on another power play with Taylor Accursi scoring her team-leading fifth power-play goal. The Lakers concluded the first period holding a dominating 5-1 lead.
 
Mercyhurst added another goal at the 6:38 mark in the second period. Guagliardo scored her second of the game after intercepting an errant outlet pass by RPI. Her backhand shot found the twine to extend the Laker lead to five.  At the 18:35 mark in the period, the Lakers added their third power play goal of the game courtesy of Sarah Hine. The goal was her second of the season and it was assisted by Taylor Accursi and Hartwick.
 
The Lakers held RPI scoreless in the third period to preserve the 7-1 victory. Mercyhurst had 47 shots on goal compared to RPI's 17. Mercyhurst has now won three straight games, its longest winning streak of the season.
 
The Lakers (5-8-1) will host #5 Colgate on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and Wednesday, Nov. 23 at Mercyhurst Ice Center. Tuesday puck drop will be at 7:00 p.m., with Wednesday's tilt starting at 3:00 p.m.