The women’s ice hockey team entered this past weekend with gaudy aspirations for the 2009-10 season, hoping to pick up its first victory in program history against the USCHO No. 1 ranked team Mercyhurst. But in its first two regular season games, the Red, under head coach Doug Derraugh, fell to the Lakers, 4-1, on both Friday and Saturday afternoon at Lynah Rink, and remain winless (0-11-1) against Mercyhurst.

The Red (0-2) began the first game of the season with early opportunities after a tripping penalty on Mercyhurst (5-0). But after Cornell failed to convert on the power play, the Lakers struck first at 8:46 into the first period. Mercyhurst co-captain Vicki Bender pounced on a rebound in front of the Red net, putting the puck past sophomore goalie Amanda Mazzotta, who finished the game with 15 saves.

“I thought we needed to be a little tougher in front of our net and a little tougher in front of their net, “ Derraugh said.

The Red held fast for the remainder of the period, but early in the second period, the Lakers seized a two goal lead when sophomore forward Bailey Bram deked around a Red defender and blasted a shot past Mazzotta. However, the Red responded quickly with its first goal of the season, off the stick of sophomore forward Chelsea Karpenko 6:37 into the second period.

After a transition in front of the Laker’s defensive zone, Karpenko corralled the puck, skated past a Laker’s defender and fired a shot that deflected off Mercyhurst’s goalie Hillary Pattenden and into the twine.

But the Lakers reclaimed their two goal lead just moments later as Bailey Bram scored her second goal of the game, snapping a shot by Mazzotta, making the score 3-1.

Throughout the third period, the Red made desperate attempts to draw back within one. After gaining a powerplay with three minutes to play, Derraugh pulled Mazzotta for a sixth attacker, gaining a two-man advantage. Mercyhurst goalie Hillary Pattenden, who finished with twenty saves, turned aside a flurry of shots from the Red, and with 42 seconds left, the Laker’s Vicki Bender snatched the puck and scored an empty net goal, her second of the game, to put the contest out of the Red’s reach.

In Saturday’s game, the Red came out strong in the first period with numerous opportunities, including freshman Laura Fortino’s snapshot from the point, which struck the crossbar.

But once again, the Lakers scored first as Ashley Cockell received a crisp pass from Bailey Bram and buried the puck behind Mazzotta from the slot with 17:12 left in the second period.

Although the Red outskated the Lakers for the remainder of the second period, the score remained 1-0. 22 seconds into the third period, the Lakers pounced on a Red turnover, taking a two goal lead off another shot from the slot, by Mercyhurst’ Bailey Bram.

“They were fast and tenacious,” Mazzotta said. “They take advantage of their opportunities.”

The wheels started to fall off for the Red as Mercyhurst scored yet again three minutes later. The Laker’s Jesse Jones’ ripped a slap shot from the point, which was redirected into the net behind Mazzotta, giving Mercyhurst a 3-0 lead.

But at 4:03 into the third period, Cornell’s Karlee Overguard managed to draw the Red within two on the power play. Overguard skated in from the right point and wristed a shot past Mercyhurst’ Pattenden, making the score 3-1.

However, two goals behind was as close as the Red would get. In a strong individual play, the Laker’s Jesse Scanzano received a pass, skated in alone on Mazzotta and after several fakes, pushed the puck into the net to end the day’s scoring with Mercyhurst’s fourth goal.

The Red’s assistant coach Edith Zimmering attributed much of Mercyhurst’s success this past weekend to their physical talent and tenacity.

“They’re tough, they battle. They’re very physical,” Zimmering said. “For us, we need to be as physical.”

But despite the losses, the Red followed its defensive plans, especially in four on five situations. The Red did not yield a single shorthanded goal.

“Our penalty killing was very strong all weekend,” Derraugh said. “We did a good job on the fore check.”

The Red’s next contest will be against Ivy League rival Dartmouth this Friday.