Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Women's Hockey team faced off against the Lindenwood Lions for the second time in as many nights. The Lakers were able to win by a score of 4-2, Mercyhurst will go for the sweep on Sunday.

How it Happened

Just 2:55 into the game the Lakers as Sara Boucher was able to score a shorthanded goal for only the second time this season. Alexa Vasko was able to force a turnover as the Lion powerplay unit was attempting to breakout of the zone. Boucher picked up the puck and jammed it past Lindenwood goalie Julia Meaguire. The assist would be Vasko's sixth of the year and it was Boucher's ninth of the year, but she was just getting started.

Ena Nystrøm made her seventh start of the season, she was able to stop all six Lion shots in the first period, Mercyhurst was able to outshoot the Lions 11-6 in the first period while winning 13 of 17 faceoffs. The Lakers headed into the locker room after the first period with a lead for the second time in as many days.

Just 35 seconds into the middle frame Lindenwood would tie the game at one.

Mercyhurst would take the lead back just six minutes later as Boucher would get her second of the afternoon. Vasko would win a battle behind the Lion net and put the puck towards the slot, Boucher would once again find the loose puck and jam it past Meaguire for her second of the day and tenth of the season. Grace Nelles also picked up her fourth assist of her freshman season.

Boucher would complete her first career hattrick with 8:58 remaining in the second period as she took the a wicked wrister front the point and it beat the screened Meaguire. Vasko would pick up her third assist of the game while Alexandria Weiss would pick up her first of the game and fourth of the season.

The Lakers weren't done in the second period as Emily Pinto would score the third Laker goal of the period with 5:31 remaining in the period. Pinto was able to find he loose puck out of a pile up in front of the Lion net, she made no mistake and put it across the line for her fourth of the season. Mary Kromer would pick up her second point of the season while Alexane Rheaume picked up her first point of the season.

Mercyhurst went into the locker room with a lead for the eighth time of the season and were 6-1-0 coming into today's game.

Lindenwood would add one more goal in the third to make it 4-2. Nystrøm would finish with 20 saves on 22 shots to improve her record to 4-3-0 in her first season with the Lakers.

Hats Off to Boucher

Sara Boucher scored her first career hat-trick and the first Laker hat-trick since Michele Robillard did on 11/2/19 against Lindenwood.

Battle on Special Teams

After both teams had success on the powerplay last night, neither team could score on the powerplay today as Mercyhurst went 0-3 while Lindenwood went 0-2 on the powerplay. The Lakers were able to score their second shorthanded goal of the season.

Up Next

The Lakers and Lions will have off on Saturday before squaring on Sunday for the third and final game of the weekend series.