The Colgate women’s ice hockey team, having already played nationally second-ranked New Hampshire, continued its tough schedule with a pair of games against third-ranked Mercyhurst. Like the UNH game, the Raiders hung tough, but they were ultimately unable to prevail.

The first game at Starr Rink began promisingly for Colgate as senior Tara French opened the scoring with a blistering shot that found the back of the net. Assisting on the goal was sophomore Sam Hunt, who won a face-off deep in the attacking zone to create the scoring opportunity.

That lead, however, was short-lived, as Mercyhurst knotted the game at one less than a minute later. Junior Mallory Johnston was able to answer back for the Raiders, as her power-play goal at 10:46 of the first period gave Colgate the lead yet again.

The Raiders took the 2-1 lead into the first intermission, but were unable to hold it. Mercyhurst scored twice in the second and once more early in the third to take a commanding 4-2 lead. The Lakers held their two-goal lead for the rest of the game.

The second game of the doubleheader was equally frustrating for the women in maroon and white. The Lakers took a 1-0 lead with a goal late in the first period, a lead they would never relinquish. After a second goal just moments into the second period, Colgate played formidable defense, preventing the Lakers from scoring again in the period.

After trading goals in the final period, Mercyhurst won by a final score of 3-1 to complete the sweep of the Raiders. The Colgate defense could not lap the Lakers and first-year Katie Stewart scored the lone Raider goal.

“No one is ever satisfied with two losses on the weekend,” French said. “But we know that we made some good decisions and did some things properly, which are positives, and on the other hand we also have some direction in areas that we need work.”

All is certainly not lost for Colgate however, as the losses to Mercyhurst were non-league games.

“We have struggledwith our recordagainst non-league opponents so farthis year, but in the end all that really matters are league points,” senior Brook Wheeler added. “Our goal is to return home with four more league points after Harvard and Dartmouth this weekend.”

Colgate puts its undefeated league record on the line at Harvard on Friday night and put Dartmouth Saturday afternoon.