Jan. 22, 2006

Box Score

Niagara University, N.Y. - #6 Mercyhurst got a pair of goals from Valerie Chouinard and a back-breaking late second period score from Robyn Law to turn back Niagara 3-1 Sunday afternoon and complete a weekend sweep. Mercyhurst, winners of three straight and nine of its last ten, improved to 16-6-2 overall and to 7-0-1 in College Hockey America (CHA). The Purple Eagles fell to 6-13-3 and 0-4-0.

Freshman Chouinard began the scoring against Niagara goalie Nikki Rudy (0-3-1) with her team-best 15th goal of the season at 8:47 of the first. Sophomore linemate Stephanie Jones assisted. Chouinard scored what proved to be the game-winner about ten minutes later when she cashed her 16th goal, a power play marker, from junior defender Ashley Pendleton and senior defender Danielle Lansing. Mercyhurst outshot Niagara 18-4 in the first period.

The Purple Eagles drew to within 2-1 at 5:53 of the second when senior forward Amy Jack fired one past freshman Courtney Drennen (6-0-0) at 5:53. But another Mercyhurst freshman, forward Robyn Law, restored the two-goal lead and closed the scoring at 18:27 of the middle period with her third of the season from sophomore Kristen Erickson. The Lakers outshot the Purple Eagles 11-5 in the second and 8-3 in an uneventful third.

Mercyhurst had a combined 96-22 shot advantage in the two games, but very good goaltending from Niagara's Allison Rutledge (Friday's tough loser) and Rudy kept both games close. Chouinard was voted the game's #1 star followed by Drennen and Rudy. Mercyhurst swept the four regular season games against Niagara and now leads the all-time series 17-4-1.

Mercyhurst will continue its four-game road swing next weekend when it travels to #2-ranked New Hampshire and Boston College Friday and Saturday nights.