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ITHACA, N.Y. – The eighth ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team travels to second ranked Cornell University for the second time this season to face the Big Red in the NCAA Quarterfinals at James Lynah Rink. The two teams will meet at center ice on March 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
The Lakers are 28-6-1 heading into their ninth consecutive NCAA playoff appearance, which is currently an NCAA record. At Lynah Rink, Mercyhurst is 6-2-1 dating back to their first meeting in January of 2003. Both teams have only run into each other once during NCAA playoffs at the 2010 NCAA Semifinals. Mercyhurst took Cornell into overtime before dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision.
Tomorrow's contest will be broadcasted live on Mercyhurst's radio station WMCE 88.5 FM. John Leisering will have all the action from the NCAA Quarterfinals in Ithaca, New York, beginning with the pregame show at 12:45 p.m.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
THE SERIES
Mercyhurst owns a lifetime 13-5-1 against Cornell but Cornell has figured out the Lakers' offense taking the last two crucial meetings. There has been a development of a rival as the two teams are 5-5 against each other in the last ten games. Mercyhurst has outscored the Big Red only 30-to-29 in the last ten, and have been taken into one overtime contest where Mercyhurst fell in a 3-2 decision during the only playoff meeting in the 2010 NCAA semifinals. The Lakers are a 6-2-1 lifetime at Lynah Rink, and look to pick up their seventh win to make it to their third Frozen Four appearance. Last time out, Cornell shut out Mercyhurst 4-0 on a week-day meeting. Goaltenders Stephanie Ciampa and Amanda Makela split the role between the pipes for Mercyhurst, giving up four goals with three of them in the first period. Brianne Jenner tallied two Big Red goals, while Jessica Campbell and Hayleigh Cudmore scored the other two. In the last four meetings, the Big Red has scored a three goal rally in either the second or third to capture the win. Junior captain Christine Bestland has scored seven points in six games in her career against Cornell. Bestland and defensemen Molly Byrne are the only two Lakers on the current roster that have scored a goal on the Cornell defense, with Byrne combining for 3 points on two assists. As a team, the Lakers have notched 15 points on two goals and 13 assists, and have only tallied 63 shots on goal in nine games. Mercyhurst is 7-for-42 (16.66%) on their power-play in their last ten meetings, with Cornell holding them to 4-for-19 (21%) in the last four. The Lakers penalty-kill have stopped 54-of-62 (87%) Big Red power-play opportunities, and have allowed 18-of-22 (81.8%) in the previous four.
LAST TIME OUT
The Lakers are heading into the post season with an overall record of 28-6-1. For the tenth time in the program history, Mercyhurst has captured the College Hockey America Tournament Championship, falling only once to Robert Morris in the 2011-12 season. On Friday, the Lakers faced the Colonials in the semifinals of the CHA tournament. Mercyhurst scored first when Senior Lauren Jones snuck it past Kristen DiCiocco at the 7:22 mark in the second. Robert Morris pulled DiCiocco with a little over a minute to play in regulation. Junior Christine Bestland tallied an empty net goal at 19:10 to give the Lakers a 2-0 advantage. Robert Morris would prevent Ciampa from having a shutout, scoring with 20 seconds left but the rally fell short and the Lakers advanced. On Saturday, Syracuse scored at the buzzer at the end of the second period on a power-play opportunity, before Mercyhurst ignited in the third to score four goals. Sophomore Caroline Luczak scored her second goal of the season and first game-winner at 6:33 on a power-play opportunity. Bestland, junior Chrisite Cicero and senior Lauren Jones all tallied a goal apiece. Throughout the weekend, Bestland notched three points, and blocked four shots defensively to lead the Lakers. Jones collected a goal and two assists while senior Stephanie DeSutter mustered two assists. Freshman Jenna Dingeldein is on a four game points streak after scoring two assists over conference playoffs. Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa improved her winning streak to ten after picking up two wins and the tournament MVP. She combined for 44 saves throughout the two games, averaging 1.00 goals against and a .956 save percentage. Bestland is sixth in the nation in scoring, averaging 1.97 points per game on 69 points scored this season. Dingeldein is 22nd and is averaging 1.17 points per game, with Emily Janiga 24th with 40 points this season and an average 1.14 points per game. Ciampa is fourth in the nation with a 1.37 goals against average, and is second behind Minnesota Noora Raty with a .950 winning percentage. As a team, the Lakers are third in scoring offensively (4.23) and sixth defensively (1.66).
MERCYHURST IN NCAA PLAYOFFS
Mercyhurst is 3-8 lifetime in the NCAA Tournament. Mercyhurst has made the postseason for nine consecutive seasons, reaching the Frozen Four twice and finishing as the national runner-up in 2009. The Lakers' first appearance in the tournament came in 2005 and resulted in an epic 5-4 triple-overtime loss to Harvard. Mercyhurst goaltender Desi Clark stopped 78 shots in the loss, which was an NCAA record until just recent. The following year, Mercyhurst lost to Wisconsin 2-1 in double overtime. The Lakers made their first-ever Frozen Four appearance in 2009, knocking off St. Lawrence 3-1 in Erie. Mercyhurst went on to defeat Minnesota in the semifinals before falling to Wisconsin in the National Championship. Last season, the Lakers faced Wisconsin for the this time in NCAA playoffs, with Wisconsin holding their unbeaten streak when Mercyhurst fell 3-1.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
The Mercyhurst University women's hockey team is on a seven game winning streak after suffering their third loss in the conference by Robert Morris. The Lakers have not lost a game since February 8 when they suffered a 4-2 loss over the Colonials. With the help of goaltender Stephanie Ciampa their success has led them to the programs 10th conference title and a ticket to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Ciampa (19-1-0) improved her winning streak to ten, after splitting majority of the season with partner in crime Amanda Makela. Junior Christine Bestland and freshman Dingeldein have tallied a four game points streak. The line mates have combined for 12 points in four games, averaging 3.00 points a game. Junior Chrisite Cicero holds the longest streak for eight on the team from December 7 before Cornell stopped her on January 29.
POSTSEASON CONFERENCE AWARDS
At the CHA's postseason banquet last Thursday, several Mercyhurst players earned honors for their play during the season. Junior Christine Bestland was named CHA's Player of the Year and was a First Team selection. She was also awarded the conference scoring trophy after leading the conference all season long. Senior goaltender Stephanie Ciampa was awarded the CHA goaltending trophy for her performances.
Joining Bestland on All-CHA first team was sophomore's Shelby Bram and Vaila Higson. Sophomore Molly Byrne was named All-CHA Second team, while freshmen Emily Janiga and Jenna Dingeldein earned All-CHA Rookie Team honors.
Ciampa was named CHA tournament MVP for her performances against Robert Morris and Syracuse. Bestland, senior Stephanie DeSutter, senior Lauren Jones and Ciampa were all named All-Tournament Team.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
For the tenth time in program history, the Mercyhurst Lakers have captured the CHA regular season and CHA Tournament Championship. The two trophies have once against reunited at the Mercyhurst Ice Center after the Lakers beat Syracuse 4-1 in the championship game on Saturday, March 9. For the eleventh consecutive year, the Lakers have made the CHA playoffs and to date have not lost a CHA semifinal game. Last year they dropped their only CHA Championship game against Robert Morris.
BESTLAND, CIAMPA EARN CHA MONTHLY HONORS
Bestland tallied her best month of the season during the month of February, scoring 11 goals and adding three assists for 14 points. She led the team in goals, points, and power play goals during the eight February games. She tallied her second hat trick of the season, which included two power-play goals, in a 5-2 win against Penn State on February 1. Bestland had a five-game point scoring streak from February 1 to February15, and scored at least one point in seven of the eight games. She recorded multiple points in five games during the month.
Ciampa, meanwhile, went undefeated (6-0-0) during the month to improve to 17-1-0 this season. She allowed 11 goals in her six starts on 123 shots on goal for a .911 save percentage and a 1.87 goals against average. Four of the 11 goals she allowed during the month were power play tallies. Ciampa did not allow more than three goals in a contest during the month.
