SYRACUSE, NY -- The Mercyhurst Women's Hockey team suffered a setback on Saturday afternoon to CHA opponent Syracuse at the Tennity Ice Center. The Orange were victorious by a score of 3-1 to split the two-game series.

Mercyhurst (13-6-2, 4-2 CHA) began scoring in the opening period courtesy of Liliane Perreault. The senior from Hillsdale, Illinois redirected a pass from K.K. Thiessen past the outstretched leg of Syracuse's Arielle DeSmet to put the Lakers up 1-0 five minutes and 26 seconds into the first. Unfortunately for the Lakers, this would be the last of their scoring for the day as the Orange (6-8-3, 5-3 CHA) would go on to score three goals unanswered. 

Syracuse tied the game at the 4:14 mark in the second period when Lauren Bellefontaine snuck a wrist shot between Ena Nystrøm and the right goal post. Syracuse took their first lead of the series later on in the period when Anna Leschyshyn scored to put the Orange out in front 2-1. 

Syracuse finished the game with an empty-net goal with just 15 seconds remaining on the game clock in the third period. The Lakers had four power play opportunities through the duration of the contest, however they could not convert. Ena Nystrøm finished the game with saves on 34 of the 36 Syracuse shots she faced.

Mercyhurst will take a month-long break for the holidays before coming back to the Mercyhurst Ice Center on January 7th against Long Island University, opening puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m.