ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst defeated Syracuse 5-2 on Saturday. The Lakers outshot Syracuse 36-22 and scored three times in the second period.
Zoe Cramer put the Lakers ahead 1-0 at 6:02 of the first period, scoring at even strength off assists from Halle Duchene and Mariia Polozkova. It was Cramer's first collegiate goal. Earlier, the Lakers generated the opening shot through Avery Bryk and got an early defensive block from Sonja Inkamp before Magdalena Luggin made the first of her saves against Syracuse. The Lakers continued to create chances after the goal, with Avery Norman, Bryk, Lucy Decoteau, Sophie Erlam, Cramer and Maja Alenius among those putting attempts toward goal. The Lakers also killed off Norman's tripping minor, as Luggin made three saves during the Syracuse power play and Abby Poitras blocked two shots. The Lakers closed the first period with a 1-0 lead.
The Lakers turned penalty-kill situations into offense in the second period, scoring twice short-handed and outscoring Syracuse 3-1 in the frame. After Sofia Nuutinen hit the pipe early, Julia Perjus scored an unassisted short-handed goal at 17:23 during a Syracuse power play to make it 2-0. The Lakers then finished off the penalty kill without allowing a goal. Syracuse answered at 14:37 to cut the score to 2-1, while the Lakers continued to create looks on their own power plays with chances from Poitras, Holly VanNetten and Polozkova. Polozkova added another short-handed goal at 10:07, assisted by Berlin Lolacher and Alenius, to give the Lakers a 3-1 lead. Polozkova scored again at the end of the period off assists from Duchene and Erlam, sending the Lakers into the second intermission with a 4-1 advantage.
The Lakers closed out the 5-2 victory with Lolacher's empty-net goal at 1:07, assisted by Duchene. It was Lolacher's first goal of the season. Earlier, Syracuse converted a power play at 17:33 to cut the lead to 4-2, but the Lakers limited further damage with blocked shots and saves from Luggin. The Lakers killed off another Syracuse power play midway through the period, with Polozkova and Poitras blocking attempts before Nuutinen returned from the penalty box. The Lakers generated a late power-play push of their own, including multiple shots from Poitras, Lolacher and Erlam, before Lolacher's empty-net goal sealed the victory.
Polozkova scored two goals, including the game-winning goal, added an assist and finished with six shots and a +4 rating. Duchene recorded three assists, a +3 rating and one blocked shot. Lolacher added a goal and an assist with four shots and a +3 rating. Perjus scored on her lone shot, won 15 faceoffs and blocked two shots.
The Lakers next travel to Missouri where they will take on the Lindenwood Lions Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9. Puck drop set for 3:00 PM and 1:00 PM.
