Mercyhurst Game Notes
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ERIE, Pa. - The tenth-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team looks to continue their three game winning streak against Rochester Institute of Technology on Friday, February 7 at 7:00 p.m. The Lakers will conclude the two game conference series on Saturday, February 8 at 2:00 p.m.

Heading into the weekend the Lakers are 17-7-3 overall this season and are 10-3-1 in the conference. One of their three conference losses came from RIT upsetting Mercyhurst 2-1 at Ritter Arena in Rochester, N.Y. Mercyhurst looks to extend their overall record of 5-1-0 against the Tigers this weekend. At the Mercyhurst Ice Center the Lakers are 8-3-2 and are 15-0-0 when leading after the second period.

Three different Mercyhurst Lakers tabbed two points in the sweep over Syracuse last weekend. Most notable was sophomore Hannah Bale who tallied her first collegiate goal to give Mercyhurst the 1-0 edge early on during game one. Bale struck two games in a row after tallying her first collegiate game-winning goal in game two. Senior Christie Cicero (1g, 1a) and junior Molly Byrne (2a) also tabbed two points.

Junior goaltender Amanda Makela captured two more wins in net which was enough to name her CHA Goaltender of the week. Makela improved to 15-6-3 on the season between the pipes after contributing to the sweep over Syracuse University. Makela made a combined 57 saves between the pipes against the Orange and allowed just three goals in the two-game series. Against RIT, Makela suffered the 2-1 loss and sophomore Julia DiTondo captured her first win of the season in game two with the 20 saves.

RIT is 13-12-3 on the season and is in third place behind Mercyhurst and Robert Morris with 18 points. The Tigers have not one a game at the Mercyhurst Ice Center and have been outscored 27 to eight throughout the six games. Heading into the weekend RIT is on a four game unbeaten streak and have been 4-1-1 in their last six games.

Goaltender Ali Binnington is 9-8-2 on the season with a 2.08 goals against average and a .921 save percentage this season. The netminder made 42 saves to beat Mercyhurst earlier in the season for the win and made 34 in game two.

Kolbe McCrea and Marissa Maugeri are tied for first on the team in scoring with 22 a piece. McCrea is the team leader in goals with 14 and has eight assists. Maugeri is the opposite with leading the team in assists (14) and has collected eight goals this season. The two forwards are the only players on RIT to collect at least 20 points.