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ERIE, Pa. – The eighth ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team returns to action this weekend in a top-ten match-up against second-ranked Boston College.  The tho-game weekend series is set for Friday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, January 19 at 2:00 p.m.  at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
 
The Lakers enter the weekend in first place in the College Hockey America conference with 16 points.  Robert Morris follows with 12 and RIT rounds off the top three with eleven points.  Boston College is tied for first with Boston University in the Hockey East Conference.  Providence trails the Boston duo with 12 points. 
 
The Lakers (16-3-1, 8-2-0 CHA) hold a lifetime record of 5-2 over the Eagles (16-3-2, 10-2-1 Hockey East) and a perfect 2-0 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.  Last season the two teams went 1-1 at Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill, Mass. after the Lakers won an overtime thriller 3-2 back on December 10, 2011.
 
The Lakers are coming off a sweep against CHA-foe Syracuse University last weekend.  Junior Christie Cicero tallied the game-winning goal on Friday as Mercyhurst blanked the Orange 1-0.  Sophomore Amanda Makela notched her third shutout of the season.  On Saturday, the Lakers defeated Syracuse 4-1 with the help of freshman Emily Janiga's second hat trick of the season.  Junior Christine Bestland assisted three times while freshman Jenna Dingeldein totaled two assists on the weekend.
 
Makela was named the College Hockey America Goaltender of the week for her season-high 29 saves on Saturday.  Janiga was also honored with her fourth Rookie of the Week.
 
Saturday's win also marked Head Coach Michael Sisti's 350 career victory. The only coach that the Mercyhurst women's program has had, Sisti has guided the Lakers to an NCAA record eight consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, has reached the Frozen Four twice, and reached the title game back in 2008-09. Sisti has a career record of 350-93-30. With the victories, the program is the third fastest in women's hockey history to reach 350 wins. The Lakers have played 474 career games. Only New Hampshire (437) and Minnesota (461) got to 350 program wins faster. Wisconsin is fourth at 480 games.
 
Boston College has 12 victories in a row, and a 17-game unbeaten streak dating back to October 25 when the Eagles suffered a 3-2 home loss to Minnesota Duluth.  The Eagles took two games last weekend, beating Vermont, 7-2, and Cornell, 4-3.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

THE SERIES

Mercyhurst holds a lifetime record of 5-2 against the Eagles dating back to their first meeting in 2001. Last year the Lakers, then six-ranked team in the country, traveled to Chestnut HIll, Mass. to play a weekend series against the Eagles at Kelley Rink. The Eagles held the Lakers to two goals to take game one on December 9, 4-2. Graduate Kelley Steadman and Pamela Zgoda notched the goals for the Lakers, while Jess Jones tallied an assist. The Lakers, led by junior Captain Christine Bestland, battled back to win 3-2 in overtime on December 10. Graduate Jill Scandzik notched the game-winning goal just three minutes into the extra session. Bestland scored a goal and had two assists, including one on Szandzik's game-winner. Sophomore Molly Byrne also tallied an assist in the Laker win. Eagles' senior goaltender Corrine Boyles went 1-1 against the Lakers last season, allowing five goals on 73 shots.

ABOUT MERCYHURST

The Mercyhurst University women's hockey team took two conference games from Syracuse University last weekend. The Lakers resumed play following a 33-day break and allowed only one goal throughout the entire weekend. Sophomore goaltender Amanda Makela tallied her third shutout of the season Friday, blanking the Orange 1-0. Junior Christie Cicero scored the lone goal for the Lakers at 3:04 into the third period to edge the Orange, marking her second game-winner of the season. Cicero is now fourth on the team in points on ten goals and eleven assists for 21 points. Junior captain Christine Bestland captured her first assist of the weekend. The Lakers completed the sweep on Saturday, winning 4-1. Freshman Emily Janiga scored a pure hat trick before the Orange could answer. Janiga's hat trick at 12:27 in the first and 2:21 and 5:33 in the second, was her second hat trick of the season. Bestland, Cicero, and freshman Jenna Dingeldein all notched three assists on Saturday. Bestland leads the team with 43 points on 13 goals and 30 assists and is averaging over two points a game. Janiga big afternoon allowed her to take over the team lead in goals with 14 and, couple with 13 assists, give her 27 points and second on the team in scoring. Sophomore Molly Byrne is third on the team in scoring with 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists.

As a team the Lakers remain third in offense and defense in the country. The Lakers average 4.30 goals a game, while the defense is holding opponents to 1.40 goals per game. Head Coach Michael Sisti captured his 350th career win in Saturday's victory. Since developing the program back in 1999, the Mercyhurst Lakers are the third fastest program to reach 350 wins (474 games). The two fastest teams are New Hampshire (437) and Minnesota (461).

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE

Boston College started the season 1-3-0, but has gone 15-0-2 since. The last time Boston College dropped a contest was back on October 25 against Minnesota Duluth in a 3-2 decision. Boston College has competed against teams such as Quinnipiac, Providence, Northeastern, and Cornell. Their last contest was against Cornell on Sunday, January 13 where the Eagles' Emily Fields scored an unassisted overtime goal at 1:31 in a 4-3 win. Haley Skarupa scored two goals in the Eagles' win, while Alex Carpenter notched two assists. Skarupa had five points including her second career hat trick, against Vermont the night before in a 7-2 win. Corinne Boyles played the entire game between the pipes for the Eagles, allowing three goals on 33 shots. Boyles has a 14-game winning streak in net for the Eagles after the Cornell win on Sunday. Skarupa leads the Eagles with 39 points on 20 goals and 19 assists. Carpenter follows closely behind with 38 points while Field has 27 on eight goals and 19 assists. As a team, Boston College's offense is second in the country, averaging 4.81 goals per game. Defensively, BC sits tenth, allowing 2.19 goals per game. Boston College has outscored its opponents 101 to 46.