Despite another two-goal effort from junior Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team suffered its first loss of the season, a 4-3 setback to 7th/8th-ranked Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Knights, who entered the weekend ranked fifth in the national polls, own a 5-1 overall record. Clarkson returns to Cheel Arena next weekend, hosting Union and Rensselaer to start ECAC Hockey play.

In Friday’s 3-0 victory over Mercyhurst, the Knights were strong in specialty teams’ play, going 3-of-6 on the power play while killing off all six of the home team’s man-advantage opportunities. On Saturday, it was the Lakers who enjoyed the better of the play with the extra skater, going 2-of-7on the power play, including the game-winner. The Knight were 1-of-4 on the man-advantage.

Mercyhurst opened the game with a power play marker from Kaleigh Chippy at 4:54 of the first. The Lakers scored again at 14:13 with Jenna Dingeldein connecting for a 2-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes.

Rattray, who is averaging over two points a game, put Clarkson on the scoreboard with an unassisted tally at 3:49. Mercyhurst regained its two-goal lead with Jenna Hendrikx’s score with just 1:19 remaining in the second stanza.

Rattray opened the third with her eighth goal of the season, a power-play tally at 5:26 with junior captain Carly Mercer (Exeter, ONT) and freshman defenseman Erin Ambrose (Keswick, ONT) assisting.

Mercyhurst went on top 4-2 with Molly Byrne’s power-play goal for the eventual game-winner at 11:36.

With less than three minutes to play, junior Vanessa Gagnon (St. Constant, QUE) made it a one-goal game with her first goal of the season at 17:27, but Clarkson could come through with the tying score.

Mercyhurst, benefiting from the seven power plays, outshot the Knights 35-27. Junior Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT) made 31 saves.