Sophomore Megan Whiddon (10) scored two goals on Friday’s game bringing the team to a 5-2 victory.: Ashley Favata

The Mercyhurst women’s hockey team increased their record to 6-1-1 after defeating Minnesota State University – Mankato back to back on Friday and Saturday.

The team trained especially hard for these games and came prepared, winning,5-1, on Friday and 2-1 on Saturday.

“We looked at videos of the team playing. We watched them playing d-zone and power plays so we knew how to defend against them,” junior Emily Janiga said.

During Friday’s game, freshman Sarah Robello scored the first goal of the game, assisted by junior Lauren Kilroy in the second quarter. At the 14:48 mark, sophomore Megan Whiddon scored on the Mavericks to give the Lakers a 2-0 lead.

The women kept their momentum going into the third period, holding off Minnesota State.

Robello scored again and Janiga recorded an assist on the play. This was Robello’s second goal of the game. Responding to Robello’s goal just a few minutes later was junior Jenna Dingeldein who improved the Laker’s score to 4-0.

Minnesota State scored one goal in the third period but the Lakers took their 4-goal advantage back at the end of the game.

On a power play, Whiddon scored her second goal of the game off of a pass from senior Caroline Luczak to finish the game, 5-1.

The Lakers outshot the Mavericks 45-18.

On Saturday, Mercyhurst came back just as strong.

In the first period, Janiga scored her fifth goal of the season to put the Lakers on the board.

During the second period, the second goal of the game was scored by sophomore Taylor Accursi after a faceoff win by junior Kathy Donohue.

The team had a busy weekend. Not only did they play these games, but they also held their Beef and Beatles Fundraiser in Egan Hall Saturday.

Tickets were $50 and there were live and silent auctions offering autographed posters, golf packages and dinner packages.

“It’s a great fundraiser to get our name out there and let out alumni know how we are doing,” Michael O’Grady, women’s ice hockey assistant coach said.

The team feels the fundraiser brings a lot of people together who normally would not have time.

“Since some people live really far away from here, most people don’t see their families a lot. This brings everyone together at least once in our season so everyone can enjoy our accomplishments so far,” Janiga said.

The team also raised money for a different cause during the dinner.

“We sold DVD bios of our players. Proceeds went to a girl on our team, Kaleigh Chippy, who was hospitalized with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which paralyzed her body. The proceeds go to help support her and the mounting medical costs that she is facing,” O’Grady said.

At the fundraiser the team also sold $15 pink and black t-shirts for the Pink the Rink event happening at their game Dec. 6. This is to raise awareness for breast cancer research.

After this weekend, the hockey team moved up to eighth in the latest USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll. And seventh in the latest USCHO.com Poll.
The Lakers will host Robert Morris University on Friday, Oct. 31, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 1, at 2 p.m.

This is the Lakers first College Hockey America (CHA) conference game of the season.