ERIE, Pa. – The Saint Anselm College women's ice hockey team concluded its opening weekend with a 9-0 loss to Mercyhurst University on Saturday.

The Hawks drop to 0-2-0 and will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 1 for their home opener against the University of Maine. Puck drop is slated for 3 p.m. from Sullivan Arena. The Lakers, who are receiving votes in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey national polls, improve to 2-0-0 on their young season.

Graduate student Kelly Golini (Tewksbury, Mass.) led the Hawks with six shots on goal in the contest. Junior Natalie Tulchinsky (Clifton Park, N.Y.) followed closely with five shots.

Sophomore Heather McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.) blocked a team-high four shots for Saint Anselm as the team blocked 18 shots in front of its goal.

Mercyhurst jumped on the board at 8:29 of the first period on a goal by Thea Johansson. Johansson grabbed a rebound chance off the end board and beat senior goaltender Allie Kelley (East Berne, N.Y.) on the left post.

Vanessa Upson buried a rebound chance for the Lakers at 12:44 of the first frame, doubling the Lakers lead.

The Hawks put 16 shots on target in the opening stanza compared to 15 for Mercyhurst. Golini led Saint Anselm with five shots on goal in the period.

The Lakers held an 18-4 edge in shots on goal in the second frame but neither squad managed to find the twine.

Mercyhurst potted seven goals in the third period to pull away with the 9-0 victory. They held a shots on goal advantage of 24-3 for the final 20 minutes of play.

Kelley turned aside 39 shots on goal in just under two and a half periods of action. Sophomore Annabella Lalande (Plantagenet, Ontario) came on in relief and made nine saves in the third period. Jada Brenon posted a 23-save shutout for the Lakers.