NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s hockey team (16-15-3) fell, 4-1, to Mercyhurst (28-6-2) in the championship game of the College Hockey American Tournament Sunday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center in Erie, Pa. CHA Player of the Year and CHA Tournament MVP Teresa Marchese tallied two first-period goals, including the game-winner, to lead the Lakers to their third consecutive CHA title.

Marchese’s first goal, scored at 10:21 of the first period resulted from the Lakers persistent pressure on the Niagara defense. With the Purple Eagles unable to clear the zone, Marchese found herself alone low in the left face-off circle. Carrying the puck towards the goal, she continued across the front of the crease and beat Niagara freshman goaltender Nikki Rudy (Port McNeill, B.C.) low on the glove side.

Niagara’s first scoring opportunity came at 11:53 while on the power play, as freshman Ashley Riggs (Pickering, Ont.) found Chelsea Donovan (Caledonia, Ont.) ahead at the blue line. The sophomore made a nice move to beat the defenseman but Mercyhurst senior goaltender Desi Clark was in position to stop the shot.

With the Purple Eagles shorthanded at 15:13, Riggs broke past the Mercyhurst defense looking for her seventh shorthanded goal of the season, but Clark was there again, making a nice poke check before Riggs could take a shot. Mercyhurst’s ensuing break-out went the length of the ice where Marchese wristed a shot from low in the slot high over Rudy’s glove, giving the Lakers the 2-0 lead.

In a more evenly matched second period, despite the 20-7 shot advantage for Mercyhurst, Niagara found itself with a 48-second five-on-three advantage at the 15:53 mark. Though unable to score with the two-man advantage, the Purple Eagles maintained their offensive pressure with Riggs eventually finding the puck in the right face-off circle and beating Clarke high on the short side.

Less than a minute later Niagara defenseman Kerri-Lynn O’Hara (Napanee, Ont.) was whistled for cross-checking, giving the Lakers their sixth power-play opportunity of the game. They needed just eight seconds to regain the two-goal lead, as freshman Stephanie Jones scored with 1:22 remaining in the period.

Mercyhurst took advantage of its eighth power-play opportunity early in the third period, as junior Samantha Shirley controlled the puck behind the net and found sophomore Julia Colizza in front. Colizza lifted a backhand over Rudy’s glove to give the Lakers the 4-0 lead at the 6:19 mark.

Late in the period, Niagara put together a strong attack with Mercyhurst’s Shirley in the penalty box, including a strong slapshot from freshman defenseman Shannon Moulson (Mississauga, Ont.) just 30 seconds into the power play. But a tripping penalty to Donovan at 15:48 negated the advantage and Niagara remained scoreless throughout the period.

Rudy, who earned a spot on the CHA All-Tournament Team, finished the game with 38 saves. Riggs was also named to the prestigious team.

Niagara finishes the 2004-05 season with a 16-15-3 record.

CHA All-Tournament Team