ERIE, Pa. – Maggie Knott scored the game-winning goal with 1:29 remaining in regulation to put the Mercyhurst women's ice hockey team past Lindenwood 3-2 at Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday afternoon.
The win marks the Lakers' fourth College Hockey America (CHA) win in their past five contests with three games remaining in the regular season before the beginning of the CHA playoffs in early March.
In a game that saw limited scoring chances, it took over a full period for either team to get on the scoreboard. The Lakers scored first and did so on the penalty kill. Megan Whiddon netted a pass from Brooke Hartwick on a short-handed breakaway. Whiddon's fifth of the season at 3:05 in the period put the Lakers in front 1-0. Paige Horton also earned an assist on the play.
Lindenwood bounced back at 6:48 to tie the game on a goal from Sarah Bobrowski, but another special-teams goal put the Lakers back out in front at 8:02. This time, the Lakers scored with the extra skater on the power play. Hartwick scored her team-high 16th of the season with helpers from Sarah Robello and Sarah Hine to put Mercyhurst up 2-1.
The Lions once again tied the score in the third period. At 12:49, Courtney Ganske scored to knot the game at two. Minutes later, Lindenwood had a golden opportunity to take the lead on a breakaway by Britannia Gillanders, but Jessica Convery stopped the one-on-one chance to keep the game tied.
Convery's stop proved to be critical for the Lakers because it set the table for Knott's game-winner in the final two minutes. After a lead pass from Rachael Smith, Jennifer MacAskill wrapped behind the Lindenwood net and found Knott crashing the crease down the center of the ice. Knott's redirect found its way by Jolene deBruyn to give the Lakers the win. It was Knott's fifth of the season and her first career game-winning goal.
Mercyhurst (12-17-2, 8-8-1) celebrates senior day tomorrow in its final home game of the season. They'll take on Lindenwood at 1 p.m.
