ERIE, Pa. — Mercyhurst (1-0-0) defeated Rensselaer (0-1-0) 3-1 on Friday. The Lakers finished with a 41-19 edge in shots and won 30 faceoffs to Rensselaer's 19.
The Lakers turned early pressure into the first goal of the first period when Kate Donegan scored at 17:18 off assists from Regina Metzler and Holly VanNetten for a 1-0 lead. The Lakers generated repeated chances around that finish, recording five shot attempts in the opening minute and continuing to test Rensselaer with looks from Berlin Lolacher, Lexi Stanat, Sophie Erlam and Sonja Inkamp. The Lakers also protected the advantage through two Rensselaer power plays, with Magdalena Luggin making saves and Maja Alenius, Sofia Ljung and Erlam blocking attempts during penalty-kill stretches. The Lakers went on the power play with 30 seconds left and added two late attempts, then carried a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
The Lakers were held off the board in the second period, and Rensselaer tied the game 1-1 at 9:15. Earlier, the Lakers opened the frame with sustained pressure, getting saved shots from Holly VanNetten, Ljung and Donegan before Abby Poitras hit the pipe at 15:36. After the equalizer, the Lakers earned a power play at 7:21 and put attempts on net through Lolacher and Metzler, but Rensselaer killed off the chance. The Lakers continued to push late with shots from Avery Bryk, Lucy Decoteau, Mariia Polozkova, Metzler and Julia Perjus, while Luggin made several saves to help send the game to the second intermission tied 1-1.
Perjus scored the game-winning goal at 12:49 of the third period, finishing a Lakers push and putting the Lakers ahead 2-1 off assists from Sofia Nuutinen and Mariia Polozkova. Earlier in the frame, the Lakers generated repeated looks, forcing saves on attempts by Alenius, Zoe Cramer, Perjus, Nuutinen, Decoteau and Bryk before breaking through. Metzler added to the advantage at 2:31, scoring with assists from VanNetten and Poitras to make it 3-1. Rensselaer pulled its goalie in the closing minutes, but the Lakers protected the lead with blocks from Donegan, Henlee Mahoney and Perjus, along with late saves from Luggin, to finish off a 3-1 win.
Metzler recorded a goal and an assist, finished with five shots on goal and posted a +2 rating. Perjus scored the game-winning goal, put five shots on goal and won 11 faceoffs. Donegan added a goal on two shots and blocked one shot. Luggin finished with 18 saves and allowed one goal.
Up next, the Lakers wrap up their series with RPI on Saturday, September 18. Puck drop set for 1:00 PM at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
