Oct. 1, 2005

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - Junior forward Stefanie Bourbeau's goal, with the goaltender pulled and less than a minute to play in regulation, rallied Mercyhurst to a 2-2 tie against the visiting Durham Lightning Saturday in an exhibition game held at the JMC Ice Arena. The contest was a prelude to the season-opener scheduled next Friday night in Erie against Minnesota State-Mankato.

The Lakers took a 1-0 lead at 15:49 of the first period when freshman forward Courtney Unruh beat former Mercyhurst netminder Desi Clark. The score remained that way until late in the middle period when Durham winger Meagan Aarts snuck one past sophomore goalie Laura Hosier on a power play. The Lightning then took the lead with less than four minutes to play in the third when forward Kyla Gillespie scored on another power play. That set the stage for Bourbeau's heroics.

Both teams combined for 21 minor penalties in the contest. The Lakers finished 0 for 9 on the power play while the Lightning cashed two of ten manpower opportunities.

Clark was credited with 32 saves while Hosier made 18 stops, including ten in an action-packed third period.

Before the game, members of the 2004-05 team were rewarded with rings for winning the College Hockey America playoffs for the third straight year and making the NCAA playoffs for the first time in the team's six-year history. Two of last year's players, goalie Desi Clark and forward Teresa Marchese played for Durham.

Mercyhurst will host Minnesota State-Mankato next Friday and Saturday at the Erie Civic Center. The games were moved off-campus because of ice problems at the Mercyhurst rink. Friday's game starts at 7 and Saturday's at 2.