ERIE, Pa. - The Bemidji State University women’s hockey team lost to Mercyhurst College for the second straight night in Erie, Pa.

In a game coach Bruce Olson described as “an excellently played game by both teams ,” the puck just didn’t fall the Beavers way as Mercyhurst won 2-1.

The Lady Lakers got on the board first when senior captain C.J. Ireland scored her first goal of the season off the pass from Lindsey Dellow and Lyndsay Barch just 11:21 into the first period to take the lead 1-0.

But the Beavers would even the score, 1-1, on a power-play goal by senior Lill Raynard. With less than two minutes left in the first period, Mercyhurst center Chrissy Yule would be sent to the penalty box for the remainder of the period for hooking. The Beavers capitalized on the one-player advantage as Raynard scored the first Beaver goal of the season with assists from senior Amber Fryklund and freshman Sarah Zuelke. Zuelke’s assist on the play was her first career point for the Beavers.

The score would remain 1-1 until well into the second period when Mercyhurst would take the lead for good. With 2:14 left in the third period Jennifer Jeffrey made good on the pass from teammate Jessica Dillabough to go up 2-1 on the Beavers.

In the third period, the Beavers came out gunning recording 15 of their 24 shots on goal and out-shooting the Lady Lakers 15-10. “We had plenty of scoring opportunities especially in the third period. Lisa Peters had one ring off the post and we had one disallowed because they thought we batted it in. The kids played hard from start to finish,” said coach Olson. The Beavers could just not find the net, losing the second straight game to nationally ranked (11) Mercyhurst.

After the game coach Bruce Olson commented on the team’s performance. “We didn’t come away with any wins but we definitely competed and played very well. The girls played hard.”

Bemidji State drops to 0-2-0 on the season and look to Saturday (Oct. 12) when it will open its Western Collegiate Hockey Association season when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to take on the St. Cloud State University Huskies. Saturday’s game is set for a 7:05 p.m. start and the puck will drop on Sunday’s game at 2:05 p.m. Both games will be played at the National Hockey Center.

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