No. 7 Mercyhurst overpowered first-year program Robert Morris in record fashion Thusday night to advance to Sunday’s CHA final.
The Lakers (22-7-6) scored an NCAA record six power play goals to overpower Robert Morris (5-24-2) by a 9-0 margin. Mercyhurst scored on its first six power play attempts and finished 6-for-7 for the night in setting the record. The previous mark of five in a single game had been achieved on three occasions in the six seasons since women’s hockey became an NCAA sport.
Valerie Chouinard, the first D-I freshman to win a women’s conference player of the year award, scored a pure hat trick of power play goals to extend the Laker lead from 3-0 to 6-0.
The game was never in doubt after the first period, as the Lakers built a 4-0 lead and outshot Robert Morris 17-0. Mercyhurst went three-for-three on the power play in the period, beginning with the first score by Samantha Shirley 5:47 into the game. Less than two minutes later, Stefanie Bourbeau converted a man advantage at 7:19.
Julia Colizza scored from Shirley at 11:13 of the first with the teams at even strength to give Mercyhurst the 3-0 advantage.
At that point, Chouinard took over. The freshman scored Mercyhurst’s final goal of the first period at 16:02. Chouinard then connected on the first two of the Lakers’ four second period scores.
Sherilyn Fraser and Bourbeau capped the scoring in the second period with goals at 14:58 and 16:25, respectively. Sherilyn Fraser’s goal was scored short handed with an assist going to Danielle Lansing. Danielle Ayearst got the second of her three assists on Bourbeau’s second lamp lighter of the contest.
Heading into the final 20 minutes, the Lakers led 8-0, while Robert Morris had just six shots. Lesley McArthur finished the scoring just 2:39 in, with an assist from Ayearst.
All three Mercyhurst goalies played one period on the evening. Courtney Drennen picked up the start, but did not face a shot in first period to pick up the win. Laura Hosier made six saves in the second period, with Nicole Nelson stopping the final four Colonial shots in the third.
Mercyhurst snuffed out all seven power plays for Robert Morris and finished with a 35-10 advantage in shots. Thirteen different players scored points for the Lakers.
Brianne McLaughlin was in net for all 60 minutes for the Colonials. She made 26 saves.
The Lakers will be looking for their fourth-straight CHA crown on Sunday at 11 a.m. The game will be televised live on CSTV.
