Erie, PA—The Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey team was back on the ice for a non-conference game against the RIT Tigers. The Lakers won 6-3 to start the season with a win.
How it Happened
The Tigers jumped out to a an early 2-0 after scoring 3:48 into the game and once again 7:28 into the game.
Grace Nelles scored the first Laker goal of the season. Sydney Pedersen took a shot from the point and Nelles got a stick on it and it bounced past the Tiger goalie.
The Lakers were down just one halfway through the first period. Kristy Pidgeon decided it was a good time to score her first goal as a Laker. Pidgeon was in the right place at the right time after Liliane Perreault drove to the net. Pidgeon chipped the puck over the Tiger goalie and into the net.
Four minutes later at the 14:40 mark of the first period, the Lakers took the lead. Marielle Parks notched her first career collegiate goal with Perreault and Pigeon each picking up their second points of the game. Parks took the bank pass from Perreault and ripped it far side past the RIT netminder.
The Lakers weren't done in the first period, Sydney Wegner extended the Laker lead to two with under four minutes remaining in the opening period. Wegner found the loose puck in the crease after Vanessa Upson made a Tiger defender miss and put the puck towards the net.
The Lakers extended their lead 13:40 into the middle frame. Sara Boucher picked up where she left off last year and scored a shorthanded goal to make it 5-2 Mercyhurst. Nelles forced the turnover and earned the lone assist on the play.
RIT scored to make it a two goal Laker lead just under 15 minutes into the second period. Upson joined her fellow freshman in scoring her first career goal. Jordan Mortlock took a shot from inside the blueline and Upson deflected it past the sprawling goalie.
Neither team scored in the third period, Jenna Silvonen earned the win in goal for the Lakers. She made 19 saves including eight in the third period.
Day of Firsts
Five different Lakers scored their first career point of Sunday. In the shortened 2020-21 season only six incoming players recorded points.
Coach's Corner
Head Coach Michael Sisti was proud of his team as they picked up their first win of the season early in the season.
Up Next
The Lakers are back on the ice Homecoming Weekend next week. RPI and Mercyhurst start their two-game series on Friday at 6:05, Saturday's game will start at 3:05.
