ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Mercyhurst women's ACHA team traveled to the Heartland to take part in the ACHA Women's Division 2 National Tournament for the third consecutive year, their fourth appearance in program history. After claiming their third straight CHE title, the Lakers were looking to make a splash in pool play at the national tournament, which had them lined up against the likes of Boston College, Navy, and Wisconsin.
 
Junior goaltender Victoria Campana got to kick off the tournament in net for the Lakers as they took on Boston College.
 
In the first period, the Eagles came out strong and spent a good portion of the first period in the Laker zone, but tight defense managed to keep the game scoreless until a little over seven minutes passed. A Laker tripping penalty sent the Eagles on the power play and gave them a 2-0 lead at the halfway mark of the first period. The final Eagles goal of the frame would come at 15:43. The Eagles managed to log 20 shots on goal in the period with Campana stopping 17 shots.
 
In the second period, a flurry of Boston goals early in the period forced the Lakers to play tighter defense, which gave them more offensive opportunities on the other end of the ice. The Lakers were unable to find the back of the net in the period despite an early power play.
 
In the final frame, the Lakers continued their tight defensive performance, limiting the Eagles to 10 shots on goal despite allowing one goal at 6:02. The Laker penalty kill unit shined, going 2-2 in the frame.
 
The Lakers ultimately fell to the Eagles 7-0. Campana stopped 40 of her 47 shots faced.
 
Katie Spindel got the net for the Lakers for their second game of the weekend. This was the Hurst's second meeting in three years with Navy at the national tournament.
 
The Lakers came out scorching in the early moments of the first period. Ellie Schau netted her first goal of the tournament at 3:32 after a breakaway play. The Midshipmen soon answered with a pair of goals scored at 5:01 and 10:39 respectively. Both teams were sent to the penalty box in the frame, but neither were able to capitalize on special teams.
 
In the second period, the Lakers were forced on the penalty kill after a high sticking penalty at 9:00. This opened the door for Navy, who found the back of the net at 10:51. The Laker penalty kill unit managed to hold off the Midshipmen for the remainder of the frame while the power play failed to score in the frame.
 
In the third period, the Lakers gave up a short-handed goal at 8:16 after Schau drew a hooking penalty during an offensive rush. Navy scored their final goal of the game at 16:55 while the Lakers managed to answer with a goal at 18:38 courtesy of Marina Evert, who was assisted by Schau.
 
The Lakers ultimately fell 5-2 to Navy. Spindel stopped 42 of her 47 shots faced. The Lakers logged 26 shots on goal in the game.
 
In the final game of pool play, the Lakers gave the start to rookie goaltender Taylor Wilkerson.
 
In the first period, the Badgers were held off by the Laker defensive unit and Wilkerson's strong net front coverage. Wisconsin managed to find the back of the net at 6:35 and 12:02, but the Lakers would soon manage to answer on the power play. At 16:23, Schau cycled the puck over to Susan Nelson at the point. Nelson then fired the puck on net, where Kylie Cushman was waiting for the tip-in. Cushman managed to redirect the puck to the back of the net, scoring her first goal of the tournament. The Lakers would hold off the Badgers on the penalty kill to wrap up the period.
 
In the second period, the Badgers managed to find the back of the net three times, once on the power play despite strong play from Wilkerson and the Laker defensive unit.
 
In the final period, Wisconsin capitalized on an early power play before Evert scored her second goal of the tournament at 5:02 thanks to a feed from Schau. The Badgers soon answered with a goal at 5:37. The Lakers drew a tripping penalty at 7:39, opening a window of opportunity for the Lakers to score on the power play. Schau managed to get a shot off from the point, where senior Haylie Petyk was able to redirect the puck into the back of the net for a Laker goal at 7:42. Wisconsin netted one last goal at 13:00 before ultimately coming away with an 8-3 victory.
 
Wilkerson managed to stop 53 of her 61 shots faced in her first-career nationals appearance.
 
The Lakers would like to thank Haylie Petyk, Marina Evert, Ellie Schau, Lindsey Wong, Ava Whitling, and Maddie Huffer for their dedication and contributions to the program during their time at Mercyhurst.