Mercyhurst, ranked 10th in Division I, rallied for a hard-fought 2-1 win over visiting Cornell on Saturday afternoon, at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The meeting was the first ever between the two schools.
Cornell scored first as senior defender Jenel Bode scored her third goal of the season at 14:01 of the first.
The Lakers evened the count at 16:30 when sophomore forward Lyndsay Barch scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season from linemate Kelly Raycroft.
The score remained that way until 13:13 of the second when junior defender Liz Betteridge scored her second goal of the season.
“I knew Randi [Pilger] was going to come to the middle, so I dropped low at the edge of the left circle,” said Betteridge. “She found me and I was able to put it over the goalie’s left shoulder.”
The tally was Betteridge’s second career game-winner and first since the 1999-2000 season.
Mercyhurst withstood one last charge by the Big Red as Murao was sprung on a late breakaway following a
Cornell timeout. But Mercyhurst junior goalie Tiffany Ribble came out and poke-checked the puck to save the victory.
“We made it exciting at the end, but this is a young team,” said Mercyhurst head coach Michael Sisti. “Maybe some of the bounces that went against us in three prior home losses are starting to come our way. Cornell has a very talented and experienced team. Today’s game had great flow and I expect Sunday’s game to be even better. Whoever gets a bounce or better goaltending will win.”
The win was Mercyhurst’s first at home (1-3-0) and improved the team’s overall mark to 7-5. The Lakers are 5-1-0 in their last six. Cornell suffered its second successive 2-1 loss as its record fell to 1-6.
Mercyhurst outshot the Big Red, 25-13.
Mercyhurst and Cornell will conclude the two-game set Sunday at 1 p.m.
