DULUTH, Minn. — Mercyhurst (2-2-0) fell to Minnesota Duluth (2-0-0) 4-0 Saturday. The Lakers were held to 18 shots and went 0-for-1 on the power play, while Magdalena Luggin made 31 saves as Minnesota Duluth finished with 35 shots.
The Lakers spent the first period defending after Minnesota Duluth scored at 16:55 to take a 1-0 lead. The Lakers answered with looks from Berlin Lolacher, Kate Donegan, Mariia Polozkova, Julia Perjus and Avery Bryk, while Luggin handled a steady stream of Minnesota Duluth shots. The Lakers also blocked attempts through Polozkova, Sophie Erlam, Lolacher and Sofia Ljung, but Minnesota Duluth added another goal at 4:49 to make it 2-0. The Lakers finished the period without a goal and went to the first intermission trailing 2-0.
The Lakers opened the second period by killing off Bryk's tripping penalty, with Luggin credited with several saves during the two-minute power play before Bryk returned at 16:22. The visitors then generated a quick response offensively, as Polozkova and Halle Duchene put shots on goal in a six-second span. The Lakers continued to find looks through Sofia Nuutinen, Regina Metzler and Abby Poitras, while Holly VanNetten and Perjus each blocked Minnesota Duluth attempts in front of Luggin. Neither team scored in the frame.
The Lakers were held off the scoreboard in the third period while Minnesota Duluth added two even-strength goals to close out the 4-0 result. The Lakers created chances through Zoe Cramer, Erlam and Lolacher before getting through Metzler's hooking penalty without allowing a power-play goal. The Lakers had their own power-play opportunity after a Minnesota Duluth elbowing penalty, but Poitras had two attempts blocked before a penalty ended the advantage. The Lakers pushed again midway through the frame with shots from Bryk, Lexi Stanat and Perjus in a short span, while Luggin continued to face pressure and made multiple saves before Minnesota Duluth closed out the period and the game.
Luggin finished with 31 saves in goal. Perjus won eight faceoffs and blocked three shots. Lolacher recorded three shots, two faceoff wins and one blocked shot. Polozkova added three shots and one block.
The Lakers will return to the Mercyhurst Ice Center October 2nd and 3rd as they host the Syracuse Orange in their first AHA matchup of the season. Puck drops set for 6:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
