Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Women's Ice Hockey team responded in dominant fashion, blanking Syracuse 4-0 in Game 2 of the AHA Semifinals on Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. With the victory, the Lakers force a decisive Game 3 on Sunday, where the winner will advance to the AHA Championship Game. 

How It Happened: 

After being shut out in Game 1, the Lakers wasted no time getting on the board. Chantal Ste-Croix opened the scoring at 4:39 of the first period, burying a feed from Vanessa Upson to give Mercyhurst an early 1-0 lead. Just minutes later, Makayla Javier extended the advantage, finishing a setup from Regina Metzler at 8:51, sending the Lakers into the first intermission ahead 2-0. 

Mercyhurst continued to dictate play in the second period. Sydney Pedersen lit the lamp at 6:39, with assists from Upson and Jade Maisonneuve, stretching the lead to 3-0. The Lakers then capitalized on the power play at 13:52, as Javier netted her second of the game, this time assisted by Upson and Megan McKay, to make it 4-0 heading into the final frame. 

The Lakers' defense held firm in the third period, allowing just three shots on goal as they cruised to the shutout victory. Goaltender Magdalena Luggin turned away all 16 shots she faced, securing her second shutout of the season. 

Notable Performances: 

• Makayla Javier led the way with two goals, including a power-play marker. 

• Vanessa Upson tallied three assists, playing a key role in the Lakers' offense. 

• Sydney Pedersen and Chantal Ste-Croix each scored once. 

• Magdalena Luggin made 16 saves for the shutout. 

• Mercyhurst outshot Syracuse 39-16, controlling possession throughout the game. 

Special Teams: 

• Mercyhurst: 1-for-3 on the power play. 

• Syracuse: 0-for-1 on the power play. 

Up Next: 

With the series tied 1-1, Mercyhurst and Syracuse will face off in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday at 3:00 PM at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The winner will advance to the AHA Championship Game, where they will face #1 Penn State.