Women's Ice Hockey | 1/27/2018 6:19:00 PM

Box Score SYRACUSE N.Y. – Mercyhurst women's ice hockey junior forward Vilma Tanskanen scored her first career hat trick with three power play goals to lead the Lakers to a 4-0 win over Syracuse Saturday afternoon at Tennity Ice Center.
 
Tanskanen's hat trick is the first hat trick recorded by a Laker forward since Feb. 21, 2014 when Christine Bestland scored three times against Lindenwood, also in a 4-0 win. Mercyhurst's other goal-scorer for the game was Brooke Hartwick.
 
Kennedy Blair picked up her second-career shutout while making 22 saves. She is now 6-6-0 this season, including a 6-1 mark in CHA play.
 
Tanskanen's first score came at 16:16 in the first period. After a scoreless second period, Tanskanen netted her second on a penalty that was carried over from the previous period.
 
Hartwick scored her ninth of the season at even strength with 8:32 remaining before Tanskanen's third power-play marker at 14:45 in the third. Tanskanen now has a team-leading 13 goals this season.
 
Mercyhurst scored three power-play power goals in a single game for the first time since Feb. 18, 2017. It was the first time a conference opponent scored multiple power-play goals against Syracuse this season, who's penalty-kill was the best in the CHA at 87.6% (106/121) this season.
 
The Lakers have a bye week next week before defending home ice against Penn St. Feb. 9-10. Game times are 3 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at Mercyhurst Ice Center.