NASHVILLE, TN --- The Mercyhurst University Women's Hockey team fell to the third ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday evening by a score of 4-0  during the opening day of the Smashville Women's Hockey Showcase.

In the first period, the Lakers and Golden Gophers played a scoreless first 10 minutes. The two teams would see early power play opportunities, however both teams' penalty-kill units prevailed. Minnesota would open up scoring in the contest 14 minutes and 30 seconds into the first period when Taylor Heise scored her team leading 12th goal of the season for the Gophers to put them up 1-0. Minnesota would go on to take their 1-0 advantage with them into the first intermission.

Ena Nystrøm started in between the pipes for Mercyhurst, the junior made 16 saves in the first period including an impressive stop on a Minnesota breakaway opportunity. The Lakers were outshot by the Golden Gophers 17-7 in the period, and the Lakers penalty-kill unit stopped all three of the Gophers power play chances.

During the second period, Minnesota would extend their lead to two goals to none as Catie Skaja scored her fourth goal of the season for the Gophers. The Lakers would earn three power play opportunities in the second period, however they failed to convert on all three. Alexa Vasko led Mercyhurst with five shots on goal after the second period horn. Nystrøm would add an additional nine saves to her tally in the second. 

As the third period began, the Lakers killed off an early Minnesota power play opportunity, Ena Nystrøm made a couple of saves including a diving crossbody save to preserve the 2-0 score.

Heise scored her second goal of the contest halfway through the final period on the power play to extend the Golden Gopher lead to three goals to none. Minnesota concluded their scoring with 7:17 remaining courtesy of Catie Skaja making the final score 4-0 Minnesota.

Minnesota finished the game outshooting the Lakers 39-28, Nystrøm ended with a season high 35 saves in goal for Mercyhurst.

Mercyhurst will conclude their time in Nashville tomorrow at 1:00 p.m CST against Boston College in the consolation game.