Syracuse (10-10-3, 6-1-2 College Hockey America) defeated Mercyhurst (9-8-4, 6-1-2), 2-0, on Friday afternoon at War Memorial Arena. The Orange pulled itself into a tie with the Lakers for first place in the conference, with each team having 14 points.

In the first period, only two penalties were called — one on each team — and only 13 total shots were taken between the two teams.

The scoring started in the second period. With a little over 15 minutes gone, Lakers senior J’Nai Mahadeo was called for a checking penalty. One minute and five seconds later, captain Nicole Ferrara put the puck in the back of the net to give Syracuse a 1-0 lead. It was her team-leading 10th goal of the season.

The Orange got an insurance goal with 7:27 gone in the third period when sophomore Emily Costales scored to give SU a 2-0 lead that it would hold for the rest of the game.

Thirteen penalties — seven on Mercyhurst and six on Syracuse — were called throughout the game. The Orange averages just 3.1 penalties a game and its opponents average four.

Goalie Jenn Gilligan recorded her second straight shutout. She hasn’t allowed a goal since late in the second period in a game against Colgate on Jan. 4.

The Orange finishes this two-games series with Mercyhurst on Saturday at 3 p.m., again at War Memorial Arena. A win would put Syracuse in sole possession of first place.