Sept. 28, 2007

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Erie, Pa. - Freshman forward Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, Ontario/Aurora Panthers) scored two goals as the #2-ranked Mercyhurst Lakers came from behind to defeat the Vaughan Flames, 3-1, before 602 fans at the Ice Center.

Vaughan drew first blood as Meagan Aarts scored a power-play goal past senior goaltender Laura Hosier at 7:45 of the first period. The Lakers tied it up 10 minutes later as Bendus scored her first of two markers on the evening. Senior forward Kristen Erickson (Akron, Ohio/Ohio Flames) and sophomore forward Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ontario/Canadian National Team) set up the goal.

After a scoreless second period, Mercyhurst broke the game open with two tallies in the final stanza. Bendus gave the Lakers the lead for good on a beautiful one-timer from Agosta between the circles just three and a half minutes into the period. Junior forward Melissa Dianoski (Anchorage, Alaska/University of North Dakota) sealed the victory with a goal three minutes left in regulation. Agosta centered the puck and Dianoski, dove and put just enough stick on the puck to lift it over Vaughan netminder Melanie Quinn.

Vaughan outshot Mercyhurst 36-34 in the contest. The Flames were 1-for-8 on the power play, while the Lakers were 0-for-3 with the man advantage.

Hosier made 20 saves in two periods, while junior Courtney Drennen (Fort Collins, Colo./Warner Hockey School) made 15 in the third period. Quinn stopped 27 shots in 56 minutes of action for Vaughan, while Stephanie Jones made four saves in three minutes.

Mercyhurst opens the regular season, and defense of its conference crown, when the Lakers take on Robert Morris in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. The Lakers' home opener will be a weekend series against Maine on Oct. 5-6.