ROCHERSTER, N.Y. --- The Mercyhurst University Women's Hockey team claimed the two-game sweep over RIT on Saturday afternoon at the Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester, New York. Vanessa Upson had the second Laker hat trick in two days as she scored three goals along with one assist in the CHA matchup.

RIT began the scoring four minutes into the contest courtesy of Emma Roland, her team leading fifth goal of the year. The teams remained locked at this score until Kristy Pidgeon tied the game for the Lakers with a minute and some change left on the first period clock. Pigeon received a drop-off pass from Sydney Pedersen and snuck a wrister past RIT's Sarah Coe to tie the game at one all.

Ena Nystrøm got her first start in net since returning from national team duties for Team Norway. The junior made three saves in the first period for the Lakers.

Vanessa Upson scored her team leading ninth goal at the 6:02 mark in the second period to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead. Upson made a diving shot on a rebound that was shot from Sara Boucher, the freshman put her shot above the RIT Goaltenders right shoulder and in the back of the net. Liliane Perreault was also credited with her team leading 10th assist on the score.

The same line would produce another goal in the period almost ten minutes later. Perreault skated up the right wing with the puck, her, Upson, and Boucher each touched the puck as it was Boucher who eventually knocked it in on the break to put the Lakers up 3-1. Nystrøm made an additional six saves in the period to keep the Tigers off the board.

In the third period, the score remained 3-1 until Alexa Vasko put a wrister through the goaltenders legs to put the Lakers up four goals to one. It was the graduate student's sixth goal of the season and 36th of her career.

 Upson tacked on her second goal of the contest later in the period when slapped in a shot from above the crease in the back of the net. Kristy Pidgeon and freshman Mary Sweetapple were credited with assists on the score. For Sweetapple, it was her first point as a Laker. 

Minutes later, Upson would secure her first career hat-trick to give Mercyhurst the 6-1 advantage. Upson put home a rebound off of Sara Boucher's shot right in front of a diving RIT goaltender. The score would remain 6-1 going into the final horn.

Nystrøm finished the game with 15 saves on 16 shots faced.

Next up for the Lakers is the Smashville Women's College Hockey Showcase hosted by the Nashville Predators. The Lakers will first take on No.4 Minnesota at the Ford Ice Center in Nashville, TN. They will conclude the showcase by either playing Boston College or Colgate.