ERIE, Pa. – The seventh-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team returns to action after over a month off to host the Syracuse Orange in a CHA match-up this weekend.  The weekend series starts Friday, January 11 at 3:00 p.m. and will finish Saturday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m.
 
The Lakers (14-3-1, 6-2) hold a lifetime record of 18-0-1 against Syracuse (10-8-1, 4-1-1) since the Orange started their varsity program during the 2008-09 season. The last time these two teams met was in the CHA conference tournament when the Lakers edged the Orange 4-3 at the Robert Morris Sports Complex.  The Lakers remain unbeaten with Syracuse, but the Orange tied Mercyhurst 1-1last January at home to stop the Lakers 24-conference game winning streak.  These will be the first meetings this season with Syracuse.
 
Junior Captain Christine Bestland had at least one or more points against the Orange in every contest that the two teams played last year.  Of Bestland's 58 points last season, 10 points on seven goals in three assists came in five games against the Orange including two goals at the CHA conference tournament game.  Sophomore Molly Byrne notched nine of her 34 points last season against Syracuse on one goal and eight assists.  Byrne had a career high four points on a goal and three assists when the Lakers beat the Orange 6-2 back on February 10, 2012.
 
Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa (9-1, 4-1 CHA) is recognized as one of the best in the country with a .944 save percentage (3) and a 1.10 goals against average (4).  Ciampa is 9-1 overall and 4-1 in conference action with four shutouts this season.  Sophomore Amanda Makela (5-2-1, 2-1 CHA) has a 1.99 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. 
 
Syracuse returned to action Tuesday evening byshutting out Colgate 6-0.  Sophomore Shiann Darkangelo recorded the second hat trick of her career.  Darkangelo is second on her team in points with 15 on 11 goals and four assists.  In the CHA, Syracuse is 4-1-1 losing only to Robert Morris, 2-1 back on November 30.  The following weekend, the Orange lost twice to then No. 2 Clarkson by a goal in each contest. 
 
Syracuse holds a lifetime record of 3-31-1 against ranked teams and is 0-3 against teams ranked in the top-10 heading into the weekend.  Senior forward Holly Carrie-Mattimoe leads the Orange in points with 16 on nine goals and seven assists. Goaltender Kallie Billadeau recorded a career-high 42 saves at Clarkson.  Billadeau (7-4-0) in 11 games has a 1.30 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. 


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