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POTSDAM, N.Y. – The ninth-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team heads to third-ranked Clarkson University for a top ten showdown over the weekend. The Lakers face their first ranked opponent of the season on Friday, October 18 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Cheel Arena. The series will conclude on Saturday, October 19 at 3:00 p.m.

Mercyhurst holds a lifetime 7-4-3 over the Knights dating back to their first meeting during the 2004-05 season. In the past five contest, both teams a 2-2-1 overall including a split at the Mercyhurst Ice Center last season. Clarkson posted a 3-0 shutout around the same time last season before Mercyhurst battled back to a 4-3 win. Heading into the weekend, the Lakers look to capture their first win against a ranked opponent and ruin Clarkson's perfect record of 5-0-0.

Junior Molly Byrne scored the game-winner at the 11:36 mark into the third period, Clarkson brought on an extra attacker within the last minute of play to make the score 4-3 at the 19:23 mark but could not muster the equalizer before time expired.

The Lakers last appearance at Cheel Arena was back on October of 2007. Mercyhurst captured a sweep over the Knights with the scores of 5-2 and 4-2. It also marked the last weekend sweep that the Lakers captured against Clarkson.

Mercyhurst currently holds a 2-3-0 record at the start of their season after splitting with Providence College (5-0; 2-3) last weekend. Their under .500 record has been the first losing record at the start of the season since 2008, however that same year the Lakers battled all the way to their fifth straight appearance to the NCAA playoffs and worked their way to the programs first appearance to the NCAA Frozen Four.

Senior Christine Bestland continues to lead the Lakers in scoring after finishing first on the team last season. Bestland is currently on an 11 game point streak dating back to a 4-1 win over RIT on February 22. This year, Bestland has nine points in six games on four goals and five assists.

Junior Shelby Bram is just three points behind of Bestland with six points in the early season. Bram has tallied at least one point to mark a five game point streak this season on two goals and four assists. Another player to watch is sophomore Jenna Dingeldein after she posted four goals in the last five games and is just three points shy of her career-high 50 points as a Laker.

Clarkson remains undefeated with an overall record of 5-0-0 to earn their third place ranking in the national polls. Clarkson has lost just three veterans from the 2012-13 season and bring in only four newcomers. With the experienced team, Clarkson has outshot their opponents 27 to five behind netminder Erica Howe who has posted one shutout in 98 shots faced. The Knights leading scorer Erin Ambrose has collected 12 points on seven goals and five assists with five power-play goals and one game-winner.