ERIE, Pa – Seventh-ranked Mercyhurst is prepared to host #5 Clarkson on Friday, October 19 at 7:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Saturday, October 20.  The Lakers first met Clarkson back around this time in 2004, where they swept Clarkson, 2-1 and 4-1.  The two teams have been competitive with each other ever since, as they have a lifetime record of 6-3-3.

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The Lakers, 5-0-1, are looking as strong as ever early in their season.  They are currently undefeated in their home arena, beating Providence College last weekend, 6-3 and 5-0.  Junior captain Christine Bestland and freshman Emily Janiga shined throughout the two-day series, both scoring six points each.  Bestland currently leads the team in points (16) and in assists (10), and is currently third in the country for scoring and tied for first in assists.  Janiga is three points away from Bestland with 13, she sits fifth in the country in points and is averaging 2.17 points a game.  On Saturday, Janiga scored one goal and assisted three, making it her career-high in points per game and her second four point game this season.  The last time Janiga scored four points was September 29 against RIT when she had a hat trick and an assist.
 
Thirteen Lakers have at least two points in the early season, with seven players having more than five.  Junior Christie Cicero is tied for third on the team in points with 9 on four goals and five assists.  Sophomore Molly Byrne also has nine points, on three goals and six assists.  Both Byrne and Cicero are tied for eleventh in points nationally.  Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa is 3-0-0 and is second in the country allowing three goals, a .949 saving percentage and a 1.02 goals against average. 
 
Clarkson's only three wins against the Lakers were in Potsdam, N.Y.  At home, the Lakers have a lifetime record of 4-0-2 against the Golden Knights. Clarkson is currently ranked fifth in the country, moving up two spots from last week.  They are undefeated so far this season, playing in four games.  Opening weekend they beat, at the time ranked St. Lawrence University, 1-0 and 3-2.  As a team they are averaging 3.25 goals per game, which is tenth in the country, and are second in the nation allowing only a goal per game.   Clarkson junior Jamie Lee Rattray leads the team in points with eight on four goals and four assists. She is averaging close to a point per game in her career with 30 goals and 41 assists through 74 games. Juniors Brittany Styner and Carly Mercer both have five points apiece in four games. Junior goaltender Erica Howe has started in three games for Clarkson, averaging .959 save percentage and a 1.00 goals against average, and is third in the nation for goaltending.