The women’s hockey team played host to Mercyhurst last night, in a showdown between two of the top four ranked teams in the nation and a rematch of last year’s national semifinal game at the Frozen Four in Minnesota. After a hard-fought game with both squads alternating goals throughout, the No. 2 ranked Red (4-1-0 Overall, 2-0-0 ECAC) eventually fell to the No. 4 ranked Lakers (7-1-0 Overall, 1-0-0 CHA) in overtime, 4-3.There was a playoff-like atmosphere in Lynah despite it being so early in the season and a non-conference game. Both teams wanted to come out and prove to the rest of the hockey world that they were for real.“Obviously everybody was pretty pumped up and excited,” said junior goaltender Amanda Mazzotta. “We knew they were a great team and would come out flying. Everybody was excited and ready to go … We wanted to make sure that we came out and played our own game.”Last March the Red came in as the underdog, knocking off the top-seeded Lakers, 3-2, in overtime on Catherine White’s game-winning goal to propel them into the championship game versus Minnesota-Duluth. The Lakers came into town seeking revenge on Tuesday night and did just that, winning in a similar fashion as the Red did in the Frozen Four. The Red took the lead three separate times throughout the game, but the Lakers answered each time. It was a well-fought contest that either team could have won, but ultimately the Lakers converted one more opportunity than the Red did which proved to be the difference. “No one likes to score goals and then get scored on,” Mazzotta said. “But they’re a tough team and they know how to bounce back when they get scored on. I think we just need to be better defensively and stay focused on sticking to our game plan.”Freshman forward Brianne Jenner continued her hot start to her collegiate career; scoring two goals fresh off of being named ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week by the league’s 12 head coaches. Junior forward Chelsea Karpenko also added a goal for the Red, her fourth of the season. Mazzotta, who was also awarded her first ECAC Goaltender of the Week award earlier in the day, made 24 saves on the night, but the high-powered Mercyhurst offense was ultimately too much for the Red to handle.“Obviously everyone was pretty bummed [after the game],” Mazzotta said. “Nobody likes to lose to them. But we know it’s early and we’re going to make sure that we come ready to work and ready to get better every day. As long as we get better every day, that’s all we can ask for.”
Original Author: Ware Cady