Jan. 13, 2006

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - #5 Mercyhurst ran into a hot goaltender Friday night and came away with a 2-2 overtime tie against College Hockey America-rival Wayne State before 400 fans at the Ice Center. The Lakers had a six-game winning streak snapped (13-6-2) and suffered their first blemish in the conference (4-0-1). Wayne State, playing its third ranked opponent in a row, is now 6-11-4 and 0-0-1 in its first CHA venture.

The Warriors never trailed in the game, getting early first and third period goals plus 42 saves from sophomore netminder Tiffany Thompson.

The Warriors shocked the partisan crowd by scoring just three minutes into the game when senior forward Jessica Haydahl's shot deflected off a Mercyhurst defender high into the air toward the Mercyhurst goal. Mercyhurst sophomore netminder Laura Hosier got a piece of it, but it fell behind her and trickled in. It was Haydahl's second goal of the season. The Lakers tied the contest about six minutes later when junior forward Stefanie Bourbeau tallied her 11th goal of the campaign on a power play. The goal was assisted by senior defender Danielle Lansing and junior forward Julia Colizza. Mercyhurst outshot Wayne State 14-3 in the opening period.

Neither team found the back of the net in the second as Thompson turned aside all 13 Mercyhurst shots in the middle frame. Hosier was forced to make but two saves in the period.

The Warriors reclaimed the lead 17 seconds into the third when freshman Sam Poyton cashed her team-leading 15th goal of the season when her shot from the left face-off circle got behind Hosier. Mercyhurst tied the game for the second and final time at 12:20 of the third when senior forward Samantha Shirley beat Thompson just 12 seconds into the Lakers' seventh power play of the game. It was Shirley's sixth goal of the year. The Warriors survived late penalties called in both regulation and overtime as Thompson and her defense held their ground.

Mercyhurst outshot Wayne State 44-11 and converted 2 of 9 power play chances. The Warriors failed in six manpower opportunities.

The tie was also the first crack in Mercyhurst's armor against the Warriors, who entered the game winless in 24 prior meetings with the Lakers. The two teams will conclude the weekend series at 2:05 Saturday.