Oct. 22, 2006

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Senior forward Lesley McArthur's second period goal proved decisive as #4 Mercyhurst edged #7 Dartmouth 1-0 Sunday afternoon at the Ice Center. It was the Kanata, Ontario native's first goal of the season, the 5th of her career, and her first ever game-winner. Junior netminder Laura Hosier and the Mercyhurst defense did the rest, limiting the Big Green to only 19 shots. The Lakers, off to their best start since a 4-0 beginning in 2002-03, improved to 5-0-1. Dartmouth left Erie with an 0-2 slate.

Both teams played stellar defense throughout the contest as the Lakers mustered only 23 shots against Dartmouth freshman Carli Clemis. And, despite all the high-profile players for each squad, it was the hard-working McArthur, with help from junior fowards Kristen Erickson and Jackie Jarrell, who did the damage. Without a goal in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, McArthur lit the lamp four times as a junior, but saved her best for today.

Despite the lack of shots, both goaltenders were brilliant. Clemis and her teammates had to kill a pair of Mercyhurst five-on-threes. The first lasted for 1:11 early in the first period and the second consumed 54 seconds late in the third with the Lakers clinging to a tenuous 1-0 lead. Hosier had her moments as well, particularly two minutes into the third when she stopped Dartmouth Olympic gold medal-winner and team captain, Gillian Apps, on a breakaway. The Big Green pulled Clemis for an extra attacker with a bit more than a minute left in regulation, but couldn't get the equalizer. Hosier improved to 5-0-0 on the season as she recorded her first shutout since a 3-0 home win over Niagara November 4, 2005.

Mercyhurst, winless in six prior meetings with the Big Green, improved to 2-5-1 against Dartmouth thanks to a 5-3 verdict on Saturday. The Lakers will conclude a six-game homestand next weekend when Providence visits for Saturday and Sunday contests at 2:00pm and 1:00pm respectively. Following those games, the Lakers will begin a six-game November road trip that will take them to Colgate, St. Lawrence, and New Hampshire where they will play both Boston College and the Wildcats. Mercyhurst won't return to the Ice Center until December 1 and 2 when Princeton visits.