Erie, Pa.  - The Robert Morris University women's hockey team spilt its series with No. 7 Mercyhurst Saturday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Arena. The Colonials have only lost two games against the Lakers in the teams' last eight meetings.

Mercyhurst scored the opening goal of the contest at 11:17 of the first period to take an early 1-0 lead over Robert Morris. Laker defenseman Stephanie DeSutter tallied her fifth goal of the year on a bang-bang play off a pass from Jenna Dingeldein.

Within the last 2:08 of the first period, Mercyhurst would score three more goals to head into the first intermission with a 4-0 lead over the Colonials. The Lakers second tally was an even strength four-on-four goal scored by freshman forward Emily Janiga with 2:10 left in the first frame. Less than two minutes later, Lauren Jones scored a power play goal for the Lakers with 19:37 on the clock. Jones would then score her second goal of the game with 1:01 left in the first frame to head into the first intermission.

The Colonials would get on the scoreboard at 10:23 of the second period with a five on three power play advantage. Junior assistant captain Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) blasted a shot from the point that found the net past Laker netminder Stephanie Ciampa. Senior Jamie Joslin (Richmond Hill, Ontario / Aurora Panthers) registered the only assist on the first RMU goal. The score marks the ninth overall for Imbrogno this season and fifth power play goal. Joslin has now tallied ten assists in her senior campaign. With the goal, Imbrogno now sits fourth all-time in career goals with 37 and is tied for first in career power play goals with 17.

The Lakers would add to their lead at 16:28 of the second period when Gina Buquet scored a four-on-four even strength goal to put Mercyhurst up, 5-1. Less than two minutes later, Mercyhurst found the net for the sixth time on the afternoon. After a scrum in front of the cage, Christine Bestland scored Mercyhurst's second power play goal of the game for a 6-1 advantage heading into the third period.

The Lakers scored three additional goals in the third period to win the contest by a final score of 9-1.

RMU is now 3-1-0 this season against the Lakers and owns 5-2-1 record in the teams' previous eight games. RMU has scored six power play goals in its last four games against Mercyhurst.

The Colonials return to College Hockey America (CHA) action next weekend as the team travels to Wentzville, Mo. to take on the Lindenwood Lions. Faceoff is slated for 8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 15 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16.