The Mercyhurst women's ice hockey team hosts the second-ranked Quinnipiac Bobcats at the Mercyhurst Ice Center for two games. The first game is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m. The second contest is Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2:00 p.m.
The Matchup
- This is the 17th and 18th times these two teams will meet in their history. Mercyhurst holds the overall advantage with a 12-2-2 record.
- The last time these teams met was 2015. The Lakers were 0-1-1 in those two games. Quinnipiac won the most recent matchup 2-1 on their home ice on Oct. 3, 2015.
- These are the third and fourth games of the season for the Lakers, and the fifth and sixth for the Bobcats.
Scouting the Bobcats
- The Bobcats have started their season on an impressive note, winning their first four games and outscoring opponents 14-4 to start the season. Their victories include wins over Maine (2), UConn, and New Hampshire.
- The Bobcats are ranked second in the United States College Hockey Organization (USCHO.com) Division I Women's Poll, their highest rank in program history. Quinnipiac also ranks third nationally in the USA Today/USA College Hockey Magazine Poll. The Bobcats were ranked fourth in both versions of the preseason polls.
- The Bobcats were picked as Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hockey's favorite entering the 2016-17 season, ranked No. 1 overall in the ECAC Hockey Preseason Coaches Poll.
- Last season was perhaps Quinnipiac's best ever, finishing with a 30-3-5 overall record, winning the ECAC Championship and earning an NCAA Tournament berth
- Quinnipiac head coach Cassandra Turner set the NCAA record for most wins by a first-year women's hockey head coach after she won 30 in her first season at the helm.
- The Bobcats added five freshmen and returned seven seniors to their roster this season.
- 2015-16 top-scorer Taylar Cianfarano returns for her junior season after scoring 28 goals and 52 points in her sophomore season.
- Cianfarano leads the Bobcats in scoring this season with five goals and eight points in four games played. Three of her five goals have been game-winners for Quinnipiac.
Laker Outlook
- Mercyhurst looks to earn its first win of the season after going 0-1-1 against sixth-ranked North Dakota on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
- Mercyhurst lost its first matchup to the Fighting Hawks 3-1. Sarah Hine scored the lone goal for the Lakers on the power play.
- In their second tilt, Mercyhurst tied North Dakota 1-1. Freshman Sam Isbell scored her first collegiate goal in the game for the Lakers.
- Six Lakers are tied for the team lead in scoring with one point each. Hine and Isbell have goals while Paige Horton, Jillian Skinner, Megan Whiddon, and Brook Hartwick have assists.
- Lakers' 2015-16 leading-scorer Rachael Smith was held scoreless in the first two games, but she looks to find the score sheet against Quinnipiac after a 29-point season a year ago.
- Hine was the only current Laker to score against Quinnipiac last season. Her goal was one of three for Mercyhurst in a 3-3 tie on Oct. 2.
- Jessica Convery leads Laker goalies in minutes and earned a tie in her lone start of the season in a 1-1 draw against North Dakota. She has allowed just one goal in 103+ minutes of action.
Game Notes
- Admission is FREE for ALL who wish to attend
- Live stream available here (see link for payment details)
- Live stats available here
Next Time Out
- The Lakers travel to Cornell on Friday, Oct. 21, for a 3:00 p.m. matchup. They play a second game versus Cornell on Saturday, Oct. 22 also at 3:00 p.m.
