Oct. 29, 2006

Stats

Erie, Pa. - Mercyhurst got shutout goaltending from junior Laura Hosier and goals from three different players in turning aside Providence 3-0 Sunday at the Ice Center. The Lakers, ranked #3 or #4 in national polls, improved to 7-0-1 overall in their best start ever. Providence, losers of three straight, fell to 3-4-0.

The game was marred by 29 minor penalties, 16 to Mercyhurst. There were 8 five-on-threes in the contest, five to the Friars. The longest the teams played without a penalty was 5:33 early in the third. By then, Mercyhurst had done all the damage, getting a first period power play goal by senior captain Julia Colizza and second period even strength markers from senior winger Stefanie Bourbeau and senior defender Michelle Bonello. Providence senior netminder, Jana Bugden, who featured a glossy .961 save percentage and a 1.26 goals-against-average in making her fifth start of the season, took her third loss in five decisions. Hosier, who recorded her seventh career shutout and second this season on successive Sundays, improved to 7-0-0.

The Lakers cashed their first power play opportunity in the game, courtesy of Colizza's 5th goal of the season, then were blanked in their last eleven attempts including three two-skater advantages. The Friars were denied 15 times, including one 5-on-3 advantage in the first, three in the second, and another early in the final period.

Bourbeau's goal was her team-leading 8th of the seasonm while Bonello, who did yeoman work among others in protecting Hosier, collected her first of the year and 12th of her career. Bourbeau closed to within 4 points of 100 while Colizza, who also assisted on Bonello's lamplighter, is now ten from the century mark.

Hosier had four shutouts as a freshman, but only one last season.

Mercyhurst, which finished a six-game homestand 5-0-1, will be on the road for the next six contests, a stretch that will take up the entire month of November. The Lakers visit Colgate next weekend for a pair of games. The next home contests won't be until December 1 and 2 when Princeton visits.