ERIE, Pa. – Fifth-ranked women's hockey will host #10 Minnesota State this weekend to end their home-game series in a non-conference match up.  The first game is set for Friday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m., and again Saturday, October 27 at 1:00 p.m.
 
The Lakers have a 10-2-0 lifetime against the Mavericks, with their first meeting back on December 9, 2000.  The Lakers hold a 3-1 advantage on home ice against Minnesota State, last time beating the Mavericks 8-2 on January 2, 2010.  The last time these two teams met on October 7, 2011, the Mavericks hosted Mercyhurst in a weekend split.  The Mavericks upset then ranked #8 Mercyhurst, 3-2 in an overtime thriller. 
 
The Lakers are currently 6-1-1 this season, getting shut out to at the time #5 Clarkson 3-0.  The Lakers battled back Saturday to beat Clarkson 4-3, and are 3-1 at home heading into this weekend.  In this early season, the Lakers have three players in double digit points in just eight games.  Junior captain Christine Bestland, who had three assists last Saturday, sits first in points on the team with 19, on six goal and 13 assists.  Bestland is currently third in Division I in points, and is also tied for first in assists.  Freshman Emily Janiga is not far behind her, totaling 13 points in the young season, on six goals and seven assists.  Janiga, who is tied for fifth in scoring in Division I, is tied for leading the team in goals with Bestland. 
 
Sophomore Molly Byrne, is now third on the team with 11 points, coming off two great back to back weekends.  Byrne scored five points on two goals and three assists against Providence back on October 12-13.  She then scored the game-winning goal against Clarkson on Saturday, and added an assist early in the first period.
 
Minnesota State entered the national rankings for the first time this season and the first time since November 28, 2005. The Mavericks are the tenth-ranked team with an overall record of 4-2-2, and 2-2-2 in the WHCA.  Minnesota State finished 3-0-1 after a four game home stretch, tying Minnesota-Duluth on Friday and came back to beat them Saturday afternoon, 1-0.    Mavericks Tracy McCann leads the team with 11 points on six goals and five assists throughout the first eight games.  Last year, Kari Lundberg tallied two goals in both games against Mercyhurst, while seniors Lauren Smith and Lauren Zust tallied three assists apiece throughout the two game series. Smith is currently second on the team in points (6) with four goals and two assists.  Goaltender Danielle Butters is currently eighth in Division I with a record of 4-2-2, making 244 saves for the Mavericks, and has an 1.84 goals against average.
 
To view and purchase photos from #5 Mercyhurst vs. #4 Clarkson game on Saturday, please click here.