DETROIT, Mich. – The Mercyhurst College women' hockey team has been predicted to finish first in the College Hockey America Preseason Coaches' Poll, released Thursday by CHA league officials. In addition to the poll, five Lakers were named to the Preseason All-CHA Team, including junior Jesse Scanzano, who was also tabbed as Preseason CHA Player of the Year.

Mercyhurst claimed four of five possible first-place votes and 16 points to earn the top ranking for the eighth-straight season. Under the direction of head coach Michael Sisti, the Lakers went 16-0 in conference play last season en route to their seventh-straight CHA Title. Overall, the Lakers are 74-3-5 in the regular season against CHA competition and 14-0 in the postseason.

Robert Morris came in second with 14 points after finishing with a 5-9-2 mark in conference play a season ago. Wayne State was slated third with nine points and the final first-place nod, while second-year program Syracuse landed at No. 4 with eight points. Niagara, led by first-year coach Chris MacKenzie, rounded out the five-team league at No. 5 with five points.

The Preseason All-CHA Team saw the Lakers take up five of the nine spots. Junior Vicki Bendus and third-year forward Scanzano earned two of the forward honors outright, while sophomore Bailey Bram and Robert Morris' Brianna Delaney tied for the third and final slot. Junior Ashley Cockell highlighted the defense, joining classmate Melissa Lacroix and Chelsea Burnett of Wayne State as the top backliners in the league. Sophomore Hillary Pattenden and Syracuse's Lucy Schoedel completed the team in a tie for best goaltender.

Mercyhurst will get its first taste of action next weekend, as the Lakers host Guelph and Vaughan in a pair of exhibition games on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

Place) School (First-Place Votes), Total Points

1) Mercyhurst (4), 16

2) Robert Morris (0), 12

3) Wayne State (1), 9

4) Syracuse (0), 8

5) Niagara (0), 5


Pre-Season All-CHA Team

F - Vicki Bendus, MC -- 5-1, Jr., Wasaga Beach, Ontario/Aurora Panthers

F - Jesse Scanzano, MC -- 6-0, Jr., Montreal, Quebec/Montreal Axion

F - Brianna Delaney, RMU (tie) -- 5-6, So., Stittsville, Ontario/NCCP Raiders

F - Bailey Bram, MC (tie) -- 5-7, So., Ste. Anne, Manitoba/Balmoral

D - Ashley Cockell, MC -- 5-8, Jr., Fort Assiniboine, Alberta/Edmonton Chimos

D - Chelsea Burnett, WSU (tie) -- 5-5, Sr., Ridgeway, Ontario/Stoney Creek Sabres

D - Melissa Lacroix, MC (tie) -- 5-9, Jr., Penetanguishene, Ontario/Toronto Aeros

G - Hillary Pattenden, MC (tie) -- 5-6, So., Surrey, B.C./Pacific Steelers Midget AAA

G - Lucy Schoedel, SU (tie) -- 5-6, Jr., Ithaca, N.Y./Syracuse Stars (New Hampshire)

Player of the Year -- Jesse Scanzano, MC