Mercyhurst Notes
Minnesota State Notes

MANKATO, Minn. – The seventh ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team opens their 2013-14 season with a two game series at Minnesota State- Mankato this weekend. Game one will take place Friday, September 27 at 7:07 p.m. EST and the series will conclude on Saturday September 28 at 2:07 p.m. EST.

For fans who cannot make the trip to Mankato, Minnesota, there will be live video coverage for both contests here. There will also be live stats available, please click here.

The last time out, these two teams had a top-ten ranking head to head battle at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Mercyhurst swept the series 10-1 and 3-1 to stretch their lifetime record to 12-1-0 overall against the Mavericks. Despite the Lakers domination, the Mavericks have kept the competition in the last eight out of ten games to a decision by two goals or less.

Mercyhurst finished their 2012-13 season with their 13th straight regular season title, 11th conference championship, ninth straight NCAA Tournament appearance (NCAA record), and their third trip to the NCAA Frozen Four. Mercyhurst finished its season with a 29-7-1 overall mark, making it the 13 time in 14 years of existence that the Lakers reached, or exceeded the 20-win plateau.

The Lakers are heading into the 2013-14 season with a 4-1 loss over Boston University in the NCAA semifinals. Assistant Captain Christie Cicero tabbed the lone Mercyhurst goal in the defeat, with an assists from captain Christine Bestland and former player Vaila Higson.

Mercyhurst returns 16 letter winners, with eight of those returners putting up double digit points at the conclusion of last year. Bestland hit multiple milestones, including 150 career points throughout last season. Bestland led the team in points (72), goals (28), and assists (44) in just 37 games. She was sixth in the nation with an average of 1.95 points per game, third in points per game (1.19), and tied for second in power-play goals (10).

Junior assistant captain Molly Byrne also put up major points last season, finishing tied for fourth on the team with 32 points, and tied for fourth in the nation in points per game scored by defensemen (0.86). Sophomores Jenna Dingeldein and Emily Janiga also led the team in offense. Dingeldein marked 43 points her freshman season, with 15 goals and 28 assists and tied third nationally in points by a rookie (1.16). Janiga was third on the team with 40 points (19g -21a) and was fifth nationally in points by a rookie (1.11).

Minnesota State finished their season 10-21-5 overall and posted a 6-17-5 and one shootout win in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Mavericks return 19 letter winners including seven seniors. As a team, Minnesota State finished seventh in the nation in combined special teams (55.3%), boasted their 11th best power-play and 24th in their penalty kill unit (80.5%). Senior Forward Tracy McCAnn set a career-high in goals, assists, points, shot, game-winning goals, and power-play goals in the 2012-13 season and therefore is the player to watch for the Mavericks.