Mercyhurst scored two goals in the first three minutes, five seconds of the game, and while the St. Lawrence University women's hockey team cut the lead to one twice, Brooke Hartwick scored two goals in the third period to lead the Lakers to a 5-2 win in the first "D1 in DC" game at Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va., on Saturday afternoon.

"It was a fun atmosphere to be in spite of the result," said head coach Chris Wells '92. "We look forward to coming back for a rematch tomorrow."

The game, which drew 540 fans, including quite a few St. Lawrence alumni, parents and friends, was the first NCAA Division I women's hockey game to take place in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

Jillian Skinner got the Lakers on the board just over two minutes into the game off an assist from Taylor Accursi, and Sam Isbell made it 2-0 after Rachael Smith made a great move to get around a St. Lawrence defender to create a 2-on-1 opportunity, and Isbell buried a low shot to the glove side.

St. Lawrence responded just 28 seconds later, as Brooke Webster scored her 11th goal of the season off a feed from behind the net by Kayla Vespa.

Mercyhurst (7-13-1) again opened up a two-goal lead when Hartwick won a battle for the puck along the right sideboards, then found Sarah Hine streaking toward the net. Hine sent a hard wrist shot past St. Lawrence goaltender Grace Harrison to make the score 3-1.

The Saints once again cut the lead to one goal, with Hannah Miller tipping in a shot from the point by Kennedy Marchment with six minutes to play in the second period. Webster also picked up an assist on the play.

Hartick scored her first goal just one second after a power play expired halfway through the third period, squeezing a shot through a screen from the right faceoff dot. She put the game away with a power play goal with just over a minute to play, roofing a shot from the slot over Harrison's shoulder.

St. Lawrence had a 34-18 advantage in shots on goal, but was stymied a number of times by Laker goaltender Jessica Convery, who made 32 saves. Grace Harrison made 13 saves for St. Lawrence.

"Mercyhurst was really able to capitalize on their chances," said Wells. "We had plenty of chances to put the puck away, but we hit a couple of posts and Convery made some great stops."

The Saints (15-2-2) will face the Lakers again in the final game of the D1 in DC festival on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.