Erie, Pa. - Melissa Bizzari and Blake Bolden helped erase a two goal deficit but it wasn't enough as #8/7 Mercyhurst ended the #2/3 Eagles' winning and unbeaten streaks with a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
Corinne Boyles stopped 14 shots as she fell to 15-2-0 this season. Stephanie Ciampa made 40 saves for the Lakers as she improved to 10-1-0.
Mercyhurst controlled the play in the early going as they looked to avenge their 5-1 loss to BC on Friday night. The Lakers jumped out to a 1-0 lead at the 9:50 mark on a wraparound goal by Emily Janiga, her 14th of the season. BC responded by swarming the Lakers goal but couldn't find an answer to goaltender Stephanie Ciampa as Mercyhurst took that 1-0 lead into the locker room after 20 minutes. Shots on goal after one period were 14-9 in favor of BC.
The Lakers increased their lead to two goals as their top player, Christine Bestland, blasted a shot past Boyles on the power play at 3:06. BC continued their assault on the Mercyhurst net and were finally rewarded as Melissa Bizzari (8) chipped a loose puck over the sprawled Ciampa to cut the Lakers lead to 2-1. Boyles held strong as she stoned Lauren Jones on the doorstep with just 12 seconds remaining in the period to keep BC in it. Shots on goal through 40 minutes of play were 27-17 in favor of BC.
Blake Bolden (5) knotted the game at two with a blast from the right circle 3:10 but the deadlock didn't last long. Jenna Dingeldein's power play goal just 1:24 later proved to be the deciding goal for the Lakers as BC lost for the first time since October 25.
Notes: Alex Carpenter extended her point streak to a record breaking 21-games (18-24-42) ... Haley Skarupa missed Saturday's game, she was replaced on the first line by Meghan Grieves ... Boyles' personal winning streak comes to an end at 15 games .. power plays: Eagles 0-3, Lakers 2-5 ... final shots on goal were 42-23 in favor of BC.
BC will have a week off before returning to Hockey East action next Saturday at Providence.