MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. - The Lindenwood Women's Hockey team (6-15-2, 4-8-1 AHA) fell in their first game of the New Year by a final score of 5-1. The lone goal scored by the Lions came off the stick of Tatiana Blichova in the third period to cut the Laker lead to two, but the Lakers scored two goals in the third period to take the series opener at Centene Community Ice Center. 

Mercyhurst scored the first three goals of the game and led 1-0 after the first intermission. Despite trailing after the first period, Lindenwood outshot the Lakers 9-6, and had a few opportunities to even the score in the first 20 minutes, but Mercyhurst's goaltender kept the Lions off the board. Molly Henderson and Silje Gundersen each recorded two shots on goal to lead LU in the first period. In the second period, the Lakers added two more goals with one of them coming on the power play and took a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes of play. 

The Lions were able to get on the board early on in the third period less than a minute into the frame. Ellie Muscedere sent a pass up the left wing boards to Tatiana Blichova, who had a lot of open ice in front of her. Blichova fired a slap shot from just outside of the face off circle and beat the Laker goaltender to the right post to cut into the Mercyhurst lead, making it a 3-1 game with 19 minutes to go in the game. However, the Lakers scored two goals later in the period and took down Lindenwood by a final score of 5-1. Mercyhurst had a big advantage in the face off circle this afternoon, winning 37-56 faceoffs (66%). 

Four different skaters for the Lions recorded three shots on goal in the contest coming off the sticks of Silje Gundersen, Molly Henderson, Zsofia Pazmandi, and Ellie Muscedere. Lindenwood had the edge in blocks 20-11, with seven different skaters each having two. 

The Lions will take on Mercyhurst for the final time in the regular season tomorrow afternoon with puck drop set for 12 p.m.