NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.— The Merrimack women's hockey team battled to the end but fell in their season opener to the Lindenwood University Lions, 3-2, at Lawler Arena on Thursday night.

After trailing 3-0 after the opening 20 minutes, Machala Musty made her first Merrimack appearance and stopped all 19 shots she faced.

Merrimack got back in the game in the closing minutes of the second period when captain Mady Cipolla scored the first goal of the season with the assist going to Hailey Eikos. The Warriors then cut Lindenwood's lead to a mere one goal when Abby DeAnzeris found the back of the net with four minutes remaining. The tally by DeAnzeris, which marked her first Merrimack goal, was assisted by Emma Pfeffer and Madison Vittands.

Merrimack will try to split the two-game series when it returns to Lawler Arena on Friday at 2 p.m.

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