Box Score Erie, Pa. - February 2, 2010 - The Robert Morris University Colonials were unable to overcome the Mercyhurst Lakers three goal cushion after the first two periods and ended the contest with a 4-1 loss to the Lakers on Tuesday evening at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Freshman Jamie Joslin (Richmond Hill, Ontario / Aurora Panthers) scored RMU's only goal of the contest.
The Lakers and the Colonials battled through 15 minutes of play with neither team able to make a score. Mercyhurst was finally able to get the puck through the Colonial defense when Melissa Lacroix captured a power play goal at 15:17 off assists from Kelley Steadman and Ashley Cockell. Although the Colonials were unable to score, they escaped the first period with just a one goal deficit.
In the second period Mercyhurst scored two more goals within a two-minute span to give the Lakers a three goal lead. Stephanie DeSutter scored her first goal of the season at 8:08 with Vicki Bendus and Jesse Scanzano dishing out the helpers and Bendus found the RMU net at 10:08 to set the score at 3-0 heading into the final stanza.
The Colonials would not give up and entered the third period with a lot of energy and fight, which landed them a goal within six minutes. Joslin scored her fifth goal of the season at 5:35 to cut into MC"s lead 3-1 with junior Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) and freshman Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) assisting on the play.
However, Mercyhurst's Ashley Cockell lit the lamp at 11:31 off assists from Jess Jones and Steadman to secure the Lakers a 4-1 victory.
Mercyhurst outshot the Colonials 37 to 13 with RMU freshman goalie Kristen DiCiocco (Niagara Falls, Ontario / Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres) tacking on a career-high 33 saves and MC's goalie Hillary Pattenden adding 12 saves. Both teams had five power-play opportunities with Mercyhurst converting once and the Colonials remaining scoreless on all five chances.
The Colonials will welcome the Lakers to the RMU Island Sports Center this weekend to take on Merychurst in a two game series on Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m.
