Syracuse held a 2-0 lead going into the third period against No. 9 Mercyhurst on Saturday, but the Lakers (17-4-3, 8-3-1 College Hockey America) scored three unanswered goals to beat the Orange (6-11-8, 4-3-4), 3-2, in the final regular season matchup between the teams.

All five goals were scored on the power play and the teams combined to total 32 penalty minutes.

The Orange controlled the first period, outshooting Mercyhurst 15-5. Just three minutes in, Mercyhurst forward Brooke Hartwick and defender Lauren Kilroy went to the box for hooking, giving the Orange a five-on-three advantage. SU forward Stephanie Grossi capitalized to give SU a 1-0 lead.

In the second, with Mercyhurst defender Callie Paddock in the box, SU forward Melissa Piacentini scored her seventh power-play goal of the season, which tied her for first in the country in power-play goals at the time.

But 14 seconds into the third period, Mercyhurst forward Emily Janiga cut Syracuse’s lead to one goal. Six minutes later, Janiga scored again, tying the game. Her two power-play goals put her at eight on the season, which is the most in the nation.

With eight minutes left in the game, Grossi committed her second penalty of the third period and Mercyhurst forward Jenna Dingeldein netted the game winning shot during the advantage.

With the loss, Syracuse dropped to third place in the CHA behind Mercyhurst, which holds the top spot, and Penn State.

The Orange will travel to Rochester to take on RIT on Friday at 7 p.m.

Compiled by Jon Mettus, staff writer, jrmettus@syr.edu

Published on January 17, 2015 at 7:19 pm