HARBORCREEK TWP., Pa. — Robert Morris spotted Mercyhurst leads of 2-0 and 4-2, while clawing back to one-goal deficits each time but failing to complete the comeback bid en-route to a 5-3 loss at Mercyhurst Ice Center on Friday night.
The Lakers used a little bit of skill in the first as senior Maggie Knott finished an Emily Pinto centering pass, sliding the puck past the outstretched pad of Colonials starter Raygan Kirk at 5:53. Mercyhurst followed the attack with a bit of luck, as a rogue clearing attempt landed on the stick of Emma Nuutinen, who proceeded to fire the puck through the pads of Kirk at 6:42.
Robert Morris reacted with a goal of their own as Jaycee Gebhard fired a shot through a defender and below the glove of Jenna Silvonen to cut the lead to 2-1.
The teams continued to raise the intensity level in the second and the Lakers took advantage of a breakdown in front of the net as Megan Korzack found a loose puck in the crease and put it past Kirk at 14:00. The Colonials issued a challenge on a possible kicking motion, but the goal ultimately stood.
A late Mercyhurst penalty led to the first of two quick-fire power-play goals at 19:56 as Emily Curlett fired a shot on net that initially looked like it had gone in uncontested but was found to have gone off forward Michaela Boyle. The redshirt sophomore’s 19th goal of the campaign was the tenth on the power-play, second only to Curlett’s 13.
The playing field leveled out in the third with both teams exchanging power-play opportunities and continuing to increase the compete level. Coincidental minors on Gebhard and Rachel Marmen on a Robert Morris advantage gave the Lakers a chance to take the two-goal lead late as Michelle Robillard skated into the zone, faked out Raygan Kirk and jumped over the net minder while tapping the puck into the net.
The Colonials fought back to cut the lead to one once again on a Lexi Templeman power-play goal late, but Nuutinen’s second of the contest into an empty net sealed the game for Mercyhurst.
Silvonen stopped 27-of-30 for Mercyhurst, who moved into first place in College Hockey America with the win. Kirk stopped 33-of-37 for Robert Morris.
UP NEXT
The Colonials and Lakers close out their regular season portion of the 2019-20 season on Saturday at 2:05 p.m at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
