ERIE, Pa.—The Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey team was able to finish off a sweep of Lindenwood on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center with a 4-2 decision. The Lakers improved to 16-7-2 on the year and 6-2 in conference, good for top spot in College Hockey America (CHA). It was their 10^th home win of the year in 13 tries.
 
How It Happened
 
The Lions seemed to control the game out of the gate but came up with nothing to show for it, thanks to Ena Nystrom stopping all 19 Lindenwood shots in the opening frame. 
 
Mercyhurst was able to spend some more time in the attacking end during the final six minutes of the period and were rewarded for it when Kristy Pidgeon was able to find the net on a wrist shot that just snuck inside the far post at the 14:53 mark. Mercyhurst carried a 1-0 lead after the opening 20.
 
 
The Lakers momentum continued into the second period as well. After a Laker penalty in the opening moments of the second, Vanessa Upson broke free on a two-on-one and placed a shot perfectly over the left shoulder of Lindenwood goalie Julia Maguire. The freshman's shorthanded tally made it 2-0 at 1:59 of the second.
 
 
The Lions were able to pull momentum back towards their side rather quickly, striking on the powerplay at 10:59 in the second period, and then adding another goal just two minutes later to knot things up at 2-2. Mercyhurst bench boss, Michael Sisti, had seen enough and called a timeout after the second Lindenwood goal to talk things over with his team. 
 
Whatever was said during that break was clearly well received, as the Lakers controlled the game the rest of the way, limiting the Lions offensive chances to few and far between. The tie was eventually broken by Sara Boucher at 17:21 in the second stanza, with helpers coming from Pidgeon and Alexa Vasko. It was the sophomore's 10^th time lighting the lamp this season and gave Mercyhurst a 3-2 lead after two.
 
 
The Lakers were able to add an insurance goal just 70 seconds into the final frame with Upson converting on the powerplay, her 16^th goal of the year and second of the day. Boucher and Liliane Perreault picked up assists. Upson tallied up four goals and one assist on the weekend.
 
 
The Lakers solid defensive efforts continued in the final 20 minutes only allowing eight shots on goal after surrendering 33 in the first two periods. Nystrom was up to the challenge on all eight Lion shots however and finished the afternoon 39 saves. The Norwegian netminder picked up her second win of the weekend, stopping 74 of the 77 shots she faced in the two games, including the final 15 that she faced to help secure Saturday's 4-2 win.
 
What They're Saying
 
 
 
 
 
Up Next
 
The Lakers take roughly a two-week hiatus before heading on the road to face CHA foe Penn State for a pair of games. The first is slated to start at 2PM on Jan. 28.