Box Score (PDF)

ERIE, Pa. --- A big third period for Mercyhurst, including a penalty shot goal, lifted the Lakers to a 5-1 win over women's hockey Friday night in Erie in what was otherwise a closely contested game. Freshman Micah Hart had the Big Red's lone goal, the first of her career and Cornell's first power play goal of the season.

At the end of the first, shots on goal were even at eight apiece with Jenna Dingeldein's goal at 11:35 the only difference-maker.  Junior Caroline DeBruin and senior Anna Zorn each got off point blank shots early in the first period, but Lakers goaltender Sarah McDonnell was there for both.

With about 13 minutes left in the period, senior Jess Brown almost snuck a shot under McDonnell's pad. With the rebound loose, junior Hanna Bunton fired a high shot back in that was knocked away.

DeBruin and freshmen Christian Higham and Diana Buckley collectively created a chance with about three minutes left in the first, hammering away at rebounds and creating a scramble in front of McDonnell, who eventually covered up.

With just under a minute elapsed in the second period, DeBruin stole the puck at the Mercyhurst blue line, and McDonnell just got a toe on it, kicking it away into the corner.

The Big Red netted its first power play goal of the season when freshman Micah Hart deflected in Bunton's shot from the point, tying the game at one 2:30 into the second.

Shortly after the Cornell goal, Buckley got in one-on-one with McDonnell, who sent the rebound out toward sophomore Erin O'Connor, but a Lakers defenseman slid in and tied up O'Connor's stick before she could get the shot off.

Jaclyn Arbour scored Mercyhurst's second goal, a shot from the top of the left circle that found the top corner of the net at 11:05 of the second.

Two quick penalties then left the Big Red down two skaters for 1:57 midway through the period. J'nai Mahadeo got a point-blank shot off, but Cornell goaltender Amelia Boughn was there to make the save. The Lakers then took a penalty of their own to make it 4-on-3 for 53 seconds. The Big Red successfully killed off both of its penalties and was left with a 57-second power play.

Cornell (2-5-2, 1-2-2 ECAC Hockey) got another man-advantage, its third of the night, with 3:51 to go in the second. Senior Cassandra Poudrier flipped a puck out in front on the power play and McDonnell had trouble finding it. Bunton was there to whack away at the loose puck that bounced around in the crease for several seconds before McDonnell could smother it.

The Big Red started the third period with 53 seconds of a penalty left to kill. Cornell forced the Lakers offside, and the Mercyhurst iced the puck twice, allowing the Big Red to get back to full strength unscathed.

The Lakers (6-5-2, 5-0-1 CHA) would go on to score three goals in the third period to put the game away. Rachael Smith gave Mercyhurst a 3-1 lead with 13:35 to go when she knocked in Emily Janiga's rebound on the power play. Then, Hannah Bale was awarded a penalty shot after being taken down on a shorthanded breakaway and scored to put the Lakers ahead, 4-1, with 10:43 to go. Late in the period, Brooke Hartwick caught a long pass at the Cornell blue line, brought it into the zone, and pushed Mercyhurst's lead to 5-1, where the score would remain.

The Big Red will be back to Mercyhurst Ice Center for another shot at the Lakers at 2 p.m. on Saturday.