ERIE, Penn. -- Opening up the 2023-24 season on Saturday afternoon down in Pennsylvania, Post University Women's Ice Hockey dropped the puck against Mercyhurst University, a team they played twice last year at home with then first year head coach Gretchen Silverman leading the way. With nine newcomers to the team which entered its second season under Silverman, progress for this young Eagles team continued to show as it did at the tail end of last season.

After losing by a combined 21-0 last season against the Lakers in those two matchups, the Post defense was able to prevent any big periods for Mercyhurst in their opener which they dropped 5-0. 

THE BASICS

Post University 0, Mercyhurst University 5

Post University (0-1-0)
Mercyhurst University (1-0-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles would allow just one goal in the opening 20 minutes of play, coming just before the 10-minute mark of the period when sophomore forward Thea Johansson scored on an assists from senior forward Chantal Ste-Croix to give the Lakers a 1-0 lead. But despite 30 shots from Mercyhurst, 18 of which would reach senior goalie Grace Glasrud in net, the Eagles only trailed by one heading into the intermission.

Quickly into the second, the Lakers would extend their lead with an unassisted goal from freshman defender Sofia Nuutinen and in the final five minutes of the frame would tack on their third goal of the afternoon with a goal from senior forward Sara Boucher on passes from junior forward Kylee Mahoney and Johansson, who scored the first goal of the afternoon for Mercyhurst. 

After not being penalized through the first two periods, a pair of third period penalties for the Eagles would put them on the penalty kill and Mercyhurst would take advantage of their power play opportunity, converting on both man-up advantages. Scoring within less than two minutes of each other, freshman forward Sofia Skriver was assisted by junior forward Vanessa Upson followed by Mahoney's first goal of the season to give the Lakers a 5-0 advantage and their first win of the season. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Grace Glasrud made 58 saves on 63 shots faced for Post University, starting the season off with a .921 save percentage 
• Post University was 0-for-3 on the power play while Mercyhurst was a perfect 2-for-2
• As a team, Post recorded 24 blocked shots compared to just four for Mercyhurst
• Senior forward Jade Giesbrecht led the Eagles in the faceoff circle, winning 5-of-15 puck drops she took 

WHO'S NEXT
The Eagles close out their two-game series with Mercyhurst University tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM down in Erie, Pennsylvania looking to pick up their first win in the head-to-head matchup and first win of the 2023-24 campaign. They will return home next week to the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton, Connecticut for their 2023-24 home opener against Syracuse University at 2:30 PM next Friday.