ERIE, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Women's ACHA team opened their season by hosting the Falcons of Bowling Green at the Mercyhurst Ice Center on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Junior goaltender Victoria Campana got the nod to start the season in net for the Lakers, who were looking for a strong start after winning back-to-back CHE championships.
 
In the 1^st period, Bowling Green scored the only goal of the game while short-handed at 9:51. Mercyhurst would also have a penalty in the period, but they were unable to find the back of the net despite firing off 13 shots in the period.
 
The Lakers would spend a fair amount of the 2^nd period on the power play, but were unable to score a goal as Bowling Green played with a strong penalty kill. Mercyhurst would log 20 shots on net in the frame as well.
 
The final period was relatively tame, with neither team getting more than 10 shots on net. The Lakers would go on to fall 1-0 in their home opener.
 
Campana stopped 37 of 38 shots from Bowling Green.
 
In Game 2, the Lakers looked to answer for the previous game and came out looking to make a statement.
 
Junior Katie Spindel started the game for the Lakers, her first start of the season.
 
In the 1^st period, neither team logged more than 6 shots, with both teams getting early roughing penalties. With a late penalty by the Falcons, the Blue and Green would head into the 2^nd period with a power play.
 
In the 2^nd period, the Lakers would fail to capitalize on the early advantage, but would take a penalty at 12:58 that led to a power play goal by Bowling Green. The Falcons then scored a pair of unanswered goals to round out the remainder of the frame, leaving the score at 3-0 heading into the finale.
 
Bowling Green scored a late goal that would bring the game to 4-0. Graduate student Ellie Schau would answer with a late goal of her own, assisted by Haylie Petyk and Erin Prendergast, each of them earning their first points of the season. The Lakers would eventually fall 4-1.
 
Spindel stopped 26 of 32 shots from Bowling Green.
 
The Lakers travel to Robert Morris to face the Colonials Saturday, November 1. Puck drop is set for 4 PM.