MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Mercyhurst defeated Lindenwood 2-1 on Thursday. The Lakers outshot Lindenwood 41-19 and went 1-for-3 on the power play while holding Lindenwood scoreless on their three chances on special teams.
The Lakers responded after falling behind in the first period, as Regina Metzler scored at 8:09 off assists from Julia Perjus and Sophie Erlam to tie the game 1-1. Earlier, the Lakers generated the first several shot attempts, with Holly VanNetten, Avery Bryk, Perjus and Henlee Mahoney all getting looks before a power play at 16:04 included shots from Metzler and Abby Poitras. After the tying goal, the Lakers continued to create chances through Zoe Cramer, Lexi Stanat, Poitras and Perjus, then killed off Maja Alenius' holding penalty with blocked shots from Sofia Ljung and Sofia Nuutinen. The Lakers closed the period with additional attempts from Bryk, Nuutinen, Perjus, Berlin Lolacher and Mariia Polozkova while Grace Kipfer made two late saves during Kate Donegan's hooking penalty. The teams went to the first intermission tied 1-1.
The Lakers turned the second period into a scoreless frame by generating 25 shot attempts, including 14 on goal, while Kipfer stopped all seven Lindenwood shots on goal. After Donegan's penalty expired 12 seconds into the period, the Lakers quickly pushed play with early attempts from Nuutinen, Alenius and Ljung. The visitors' sustained pressure included a late middle-period stretch with seven attempts in less than a minute, as Polozkova, Halle Duchene, Cramer and Stanat all put pucks toward the net. The Lakers also earned a power play with 49 seconds left but could not convert, and the period ended scoreless.
Duchene supplied the decisive play in the third period, scoring on the power play with 8:27 remaining off assists from Lolacher and Poitras to put the Lakers ahead 2-1. Earlier, the Lakers killed off a Perjus interference penalty without allowing a goal, then created chances of their own as Donegan had an attempt saved and Alenius hit the pipe at 14:46. After Lindenwood was called for hooking at 9:39, the Lakers worked the advantage through attempts from Perjus, VanNetten, Alenius and Lolacher before Duchene converted. The Lakers continued to press after the goal with shots from Nuutinen, Cramer, VanNetten and Ljung and protected the lead late with blocks from Metzler, Alenius and Erlam. The Lakers held Lindenwood scoreless in the third period to close out the 2-1 victory.
Duchene scored the game-winning goal on the power play and finished with three shots. Metzler added a goal, four shots and won 16 faceoffs at a 64% rate. Perjus recorded an assist and put five shots on goal. Kipfer finished with 18 saves and allowed one goal, earning her first career win at the collegiate level.
The Lakers are 4-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 in conference play. Lindenwood is 4-3-0 overall and 1-2-0 in conference play.
The Lakers return to Lindenwood tomorrow for the final matchup of the road series. Puck drop set for 1:00 PM (EDT).
