ERIE, Pa. - The Wayne State women's hockey team (8-15-5, 4-8-1 CHA) suffered its second shutout loss of the season, an
8-0 result at top-ranked Mercyhurst (24-2-3, 11-1-1 CHA) on Friday afternoon at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Kelley Steadman finished with a hat trick - scoring all three in the second period - as part of a four-point game. Vicki Bendus and Jess Jones each scored twice as the Warriors' winless skid reached seven games, their longest since they began the 2005-06 season with an 0-5-2 record.
Delayne Brian (Winnipeg, Man./Notre Dame Hounds) stopped 30 shots including all 13 in a scoreless first period. She also helped keep the MC power-play unit, the second-best in the nation, at bay in its four chances.
Nonetheless, the loss was Wayne State's most lopsided since another 8-0 decision against Mercyhurst on Jan. 12, 2007.
Friday's 0-0 deadlock through the first 20 minutes was the 16th such occurrence for the Warriors and their opponents this season. Wayne State is 6-8-2 in those games.
Steadman's first of two straight goals came at 3:05 of the second period, as her wrist shot from the left wing sailed just inside the post. She made it a 2-0 game, as from the slot she popped in a pass from Jesse Scanzano at the 7:35 mark.
Less than two minutes later, while short-handed, Jones finished off a 2-on-1 with Bailey Bram to score Mercyhurst's 19th short-handed tally of the season, which ties the NCAA record.
During a 4-on-4 situation, Steadman's third of the game at 15:19 made it a 4-0 game.
Kylie Rossler's wrist shot from the right wing at 2:05 of the third put the Lakers ahead by five, and Bendus scored her first of two at 9:25.
A bouncing puck in front of Brian led to Jones' second goal of the day at 15:40, and Bendus capped off the scoring with a hard shot just inside the post on Brian's blocker side at the 17:14 mark.
Shots on goal favored Mercyhurst, 38-17.
Julie Hebert (Chelmsford, Ont./Aurora Jr. Panthers) led WSU with four shots.
Wayne State and Mercyhurst will meet again Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET.
