Box Score
Photo Gallery (12/6/13)

ERIE, Pa. – Senior Christine Bestland collected her career 200th point in the 8-0 shutout over Penn State University on Saturday afternoon. The Lakers collected their fourth straight win in the shutout and improved to 12-5-2 overall and 5-2-1 in the College Hockey America Conference. Penn State fell to 3-14-2 overall and 1-9-0 in the CHA.

Bestland's 200th point came made her the fifth all-time to reach the milestone. She now has 200 points in 125 games played which ties her for the second quickest player to reach 200 in the program. The 200th point came from an assist on the second goal in the opening period. On the weekend, Bestland collected five points on three goals and two assists.

Mercyhurst opened up strong in the first period, scoring six goals, which Mercyhurst has been unable to accomplish at the Mercyhurst Ice Center since October 29, 2010. The last time the Lakers scored six goals was against Robert Morris in a 7-3 win after six goals in the first.

Sophomore Shelby Bram opened up the scoring just before the two minute mark into the contest. Senior Christie Cicero was awarded an assist after she passed the puck to freshman Jillian Skinner at the point. Skinner then took the initial shot towards Penn State's net, but Bram snuck the puck in between the legs of goaltender Nicole Paniccia.

Sophomore Emily Janiga added her only point of the night on the second goal at the 7:43 mark off of a rebound from Paniccia. Bestland added the assist for her 18th of the season and 200 career point after taking the initial shot, while junior Caroline Luczak was awarded the second assist for her first of the game and second of the season.

Less than a minute later, Mercyhurst struck again this time from senior Kaleigh Chippy. Cicero was in the action again, adding her second assist of the night at the 8:38 mark, gave Chippy a pass from the defensive end across the ice to Chippy for a breakaway. Chippy beat Paniccia with a move and lifted the puck easily to the top left corner of the net.

Another goal from Bram at the 11:25 mark, a blast from freshman Megan Whiddon to score her first collegiate goal at the 13:53 mark and Chippy with her second goal at the 14:44 mark extended the lead to 6-0 after the first 20:00 of regulation.

Throughout the first period, Mercyhurst outshot Penn State 25 to four. Three of Penn State's shots came from the only power-play opportunity that was awarded to the Nittany Lions in the first.

The second period was scoreless between both teams as Paniccia made just nine saves to her 19 in the previous period. Mercyhurst had two power-play opportunities and attempted just nine shots on net after a strong opening period.

Sophomore Jaclyn Arbour broke found a way past Paniccia after a scoreless second period to make the score 7-0. Sophomore J'nai Mahadeo attempted a powerful shot from the point after receiving a pass from Whiddon at the 3:18 mark but Arbour redirected the puck to throw off Paniccia and collected her second goal of the season.

Just before the end of the contest, Maggie Rothgery ended her scoring drought and completed the 8-0 win. Freshman Taylor Acurrsi started the play by wrapping the puck around the net, which Paniccia gave up another rebound for sophomore Hannah Bale to take a close shot which was also saved. Paniccia could not handle the third rebound however as Rothgery ended the play with the puck in the back of the net. Bale's assist marked her first collegiate point at Mercyhurst.

The Lakers came out strong again during the third as they attempted 19 shots on net to Penn State's 8. The Lakers captured 53 shots on net and with the 8-0 win collected their season-high 23 points against an opponent and a season-high eight goals scored with a high15 assists.

Sophomore Julia DiTondo collected her second career start and first career shutout as she improves to 2-0-0. DiTondo made a career high 18 saves and has improved to a .959 save percentage in the season and a 0.75 goals against average.

All told, Mercyhurst outscored Penn State 15 to nothing throughout the series and outshot them 84 to 54. Six different Lakers collected a career milestone and as a team matched a team-high six goals in the first period at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

The event also marked the Lakers annual "Pink the Rink" event. This season, the Lakers teamed up with Erie's own "Linked by Pink" organization to raise money for Breast Cancer awareness. In honor of the event, Natalie Rutter dropped the ceremonial puck drop before the contest. The Lakers also sold their pink game-worn jerseys and donated the gate and 50/50 money to the "Linked By Pink" organization.

Mercyhurst completed the first half of the season with a record of 7-1-1 on their home ice. The Lakers travel to Lindenwood before the New Year on Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 with both contests starting at 3:00 p.m.