Nov. 16, 2007

Stats

Potsdam, N.Y. - No. 2 Mercyhurst had to rally this afternoon to salvage a 2-2 overtime tie at Clarkson. The Lakers, who resumed play after a 16-day break, are now 8-1-2 overall while the Golden Knights, receiving votes in both national polls, are 9-2-2.

Both teams got on the board in the first twenty minutes. Clarkson scored first when freshman forward Melissa Maldie parked her seventh of the season at 13:23. Mercyhurst tied the game less than four minutes later when freshman Jessie Scanzano collected her second lamplighter of the year, and second in as many games. She was helped by sophomore forward Meghan Agosta and Junior transfer Hayley McMeekin. The Lakers outshot Clarkson 8-6 in the opening period.

After a scoreless middle period in which both teams recorded eight shots, the Golden Knights took the lead again when sophomore Britney Selina found the back of the net early in the third period, just six seconds after a Clarkson power play. It was her seventh of the year. Mercyhurst tied the game with less than five minutes to play in regulation on the sixth goal of the season by McMeekin. Junior forward Valerie Chouinard and Scanzano had assists.

The tie snapped a three-game winning streak for Mercyhurst and a five-game streak for Clarkson. The Lakers are now 0-0-2 in overtime contests this season, having battled Minnesota-Duluth to a 1-1 draw October 20 in Minnesota.

Mercyhurst outshot Clarkson 31-22. Mercyhurst senior Laura Hosier (5-1-2) was credited with 20 saves, including a point-blank stop in the last 30 seconds of overtime, while freshman counterpart Eve Grandmont-Berube (4-2-2) turned aside 29 Mercyhurst scoring attempts.

Although Mercyhurst leads the all-time series 5-0-2, the teams have battled to overtime stalemates the last two games. Clarkson rallied for a 3-3 tie 13 months ago in the finale of a weekend series in Erie.

Mercyhurst hadn't played since a 6-1 win at home over Robert Morris October 30. Coming into the game, Mercyhurst had the nation's second best power play (.315) and third best offense (4.10 goals-per-game) while Clarkson had the country's stingiest defense (0.92 goals-per-game) and second best penalty killing unit (.953). The Golden Knights' five-game winning streak was tied for second longest nationally.

The two teams will conclude the weekend series Saturday afternoon at 2:00.