Dec. 3, 2005

Box Score

Erie, Pa. - #6 Mercyhurst snapped a 1-1 tie with three second period goals and went on to defeat the Yale Bulldogs 6-2 Saturday afternoon at the Ice Center. Mercyhurst improved to 8-6-1 overall and to 7-0-1 lifetime against the Bulldogs. Yale dropped to 3-6-2.

Mercyhurst got goals from five different players including a pair by freshman forward Valerie Chouinard, who also added an assist, and stretched her scoring streak to ten games. Junior forward Stefanie Bourbeau began the scoring late in the first period with her fifth of the year as Mercyhurst took a 1-0 lead to the dressing room. Yale tied the contest early in the second on a power play goal from freshman forward Maggie Westfal at 3:01 but, less than three minutes later, Chouinard scored her first of the game and Mercyhurst was ahead to stay. The Lakers extended the lead to 4-1 after forty minutes thanks to goals by sophomore forward Stephanie Jones, an unassisted marker at 8:18, and Chouinard's second of the game and 12th of the season at 15:08.

The Lakers then put two more on the board in the third courtesy of sophomore forward Kristen Erickson at 3:29 and junior defender Ashley Pendleton, who nailed a power play marker at 10:17. Yale got a last-minute goal from freshman forward Sarah Tittman to close the scoring.

In addition to the three points from Chouinard, Mercyhurst was also helped by sophomore Sherilyn Fraser, who contributed three helpers. Freshman netminder Courtney Drennen made her first collegiate start and stopped 22 shots in picking up her first win. Junior Sarah Love started for the Bulldogs, but was replaced by sophomore Shivon Zilis with about 16 minutes left and Yale trailing 5-1. Love was credited with 23 stops and Zilis six as the Lakers enjoyed a 35-24 advantage in shots on goal. Yale finished 1 of 7 on the power play while Mercyhurst connected on 1 of 4.

Mercyhurst and Yale will conclude the weekend series Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm.