Buffalo, N.Y. – A promising postseason run by the Robert Morris University women's hockey team was halted Friday afternoon, as the Colonials suffered a 4-2 loss to number one seed Mercyhurst in a College Hockey America Tournament semifinal game at the HARBORCENTER.
 
The Colonials conclude the 2015-16 season with a 17-16-5 overall record and a 7-9-4 mark in CHA action.
 
Freshman defenseman Kirsten Welsh posted a multi-point effort in the season finale with a power-play goal and an assist. Sophomore Amanda Pantaleo scored the initial goal of the game for Robert Morris. Redshirt sophomore Brittany Howard and sophomore Katherine Murphy recorded one assist apiece. Freshman goaltender Lauren Bailey made a career-high 39 saves.
 
The Lakers used a relentless effort on the power play to keep the lead just out of the Colonials reach through all three periods. Mercyhurst went 3-for-5 on the man advantage, while RMU scored one special teams goal on seven power-play opportunities.
 
At 16:19 in the final period of regulation, Welsh ripped the puck past Mercyhurst goaltender Sara McDonnell from the blue line on a late power-play chance to make it a one-goal game. With 41.7 seconds on the clock, Robert Morris called timeout and pulled Bailey from net to add an extra attacker. The ensuing faceoff took place in the Colonials offensive zone, but RMU struggled to maintain possession of the puck. The Lakers converted a last second RMU turnover into an empty-net goal and booked their ticket to the CHA Championship game.
 
Jenna Dingeldein's special teams tally earned the Lakers their largest lead of the game early in the third period, and secured the Mercyhurst momentum for the remainder of action.
 
Pantaleo fired up her squad with a rocket straight to the back of the net that sailed past McDonnell and put the Colonials on the board late in the second period to tie the game. Shortly after the RMU goal, the Lakers earned another power-play opportunity and continued their dominance on the man advantage with a goal from Brooke Hartwick that put Mercyhurst back in control and on top of the scoreboard, 2-1.
 
Mercyhurst opened scoring on its second power play of the day late in the first period. The Lakers crowded the front of the Colonials net and peppered Bailey with multiple shots until one from Emily Janiga slid past her left pad and secured a 1-0 lead for Mercyhurst.
 
The Lakers edged the Colonials in shots on goal, 43-20, and won the faceoff battle, 37-32.
 
 
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