ERIE, Pa. - The Cornell women's ice hockey team falls to the Mercyhurst Lakers 2-1 on Saturday evening at Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Big Red dropped to 0-1-1, while the Lakers improved to 2-5-1.

Karel Prefontaine scored the first goal of the season for Cornell. Delaney Fleming and Abby Thibodeau were credited with the helpers. Annelies Bergmann collected 26 saves in the game.

The Big Red came out strong on it's stick, managing 15 shots-on-goal in the opening period of the contest. Laker net-minder Magdalena Luggin picked up where she left off in game one, not letting any of those find the back of the net. Mercyhurst on the other hand, made Cornell pay at 13:07 to notch the first points in the series for either team.

The offensive pressure did not slow down in the second period for Cornell, as the Big Red would one-up its first-period chances to 16. Once again, Luggin did not budge holding Cornell scoreless. Bergmann stood tall in the second stanza making seven stops to keep the Big Red within striking distance going into the third period.

Four minutes into the third-frame Mercyhurst scored a goal to double its lead to 2-0. Prefontaine shortened the gap 12 minutes into the period, scoring Cornell's first tally of the season. The Lakers held off for the remainder of the game, giving Cornell its first set-back of the year.

Next Up
The Cornell women's ice hockey team will return to action on Friday, October 25th at The Ice Breaker Tournament. Cornell's opening game of the tournament will be against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Puck drop is slated for 12:00 p.m. at Ohio State Ice Rink. Game action will be broadcast on BIG10+.