Erie, Pa.—The Mercyhurst Women's Hockey team opened their season on home ice as they hosted the St. Anselm Hawks at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers downed the Hawks by a score of 3-0.
How it Happened
The Lakers needed just over two minutes to score their first goal of the season on their second shot of the game. Liliane Perreault took a pass from Marielle Parks and made a defender miss. She ripped a shot to the far bottom corner and beat the goalie to make it 1-0. Freshmen MaKayla Javier picked up her first collegiate point on the play.
Neither team struck in the rest of the first period despite the Lakers outshooting the Hawks 12-3 in the opening 20 minutes.
The second period started and the Lakers once again controlled play. Just six minutes into the period the Lakers had a faceoff deep inside the St. Anselm zone. Sophomore Kylee Mahoney won the draw and Alyssa Kawa played it back to the point. Megan McKay, playing in her first collegiate game, took a shot and Mahoney deflected and it trickled into the net. Mahoney made her collegiate debut last season but did not get on the scoresheet in her first eight games.
Just 32 seconds later the Lakers struck again. Vanessa Upson waited at the blueline for her teammates to get onsides before she went to work. Knowing her teammates were onside she made one defender miss and made a nice toe-drag and shot to beat the netminder. The reigning national rookie of the year needed just over a period to get back on the scoresheet.
The Lakers outshot the Hawks in the second period as well by the tune of 15-5.
The third period was all Lakers as well as they tallied 12 shots on goal compared to five from the Hawks. Overall, Mercyhurst outshot the Hawks 39-13 as Ena Nystrøm picked up her third career shutout.
By the Numbers
Seven Lakers earned points in the win with all of them earning a single point. Three different Lakers earned their first collegiate point in the win, two of which being defensemen. The 13 shots allowed is the lowest the Lakers have allowed since Feb. 4 last season against RIT. Nystrøm needed to make just 13 saves to earn the shutout, Mercyhurst had five shutouts a season ago.
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Up Next
The Lakers and Hawks faceoff tomorrow at 2 PM as they close out their opening series.
