Women's Ice Hockey | 10/20/2016 12:00:00 PM

The Mercyhurst women's ice hockey hits the road for their first games away from Mercyhurst Ice Center this season as they take on the Cornell Big Red this weekend. The first game is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 21. Puck drop for the second game is Saturday Oct. 22 also at 3:00 p.m.

The Matchup

• Mercyhurst holds the overall advantage against Cornell with a 16-7-3 record.
• The last time these teams met was 2015. The Lakers were 1-1-0 in those two games. Cornell won the most recent matchup 6-1 at Mercyhurst Ice Center on Nov. 21, 2015. 
• The Lakers (1-2-1) will be the first opponent for Cornell this season.

Scouting the Big Red

• Friday's game will be the first of the season for Cornell. The Big Red received votes in both the preseason and week one edition of the USCHO.com Division I Women's Hockey poll. Cornell also received votes in the preseason and week one editions of the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Division I Women's Hockey poll.
• The Big Red was ranked sixth in the 2016-17 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) hockey preseason poll.
• Last season, Cornell finished in seventh place in the ECAC with a 9-9-4 conference record and an overall mark of 13-14-4. They also finished 7-2-1 in Ivy League play.
• Cornell head Doug Derraugh enters his 12^th season as head coach. He has a career record of 202-126-28.
• The Bobcats added seven freshmen to a squad with five seniors, two juniors, and five sophomores.
• 2015-16 top-scorer Hannah Burton begins her senior season on Friday. She totaled 27 points on 13 goals and 14 assists last season.
• Sophomore defender Micah Hart is the Big Red's captain for the 2016-17 season. She was named to the ECAC All-Conference Preseason Team this year after earning 2015-16 All ECAC Rookie Team honors.

Laker Outlook

• Mercyhurst looks to earn its first road win of the season on their first road trip of 2016-17.
• The Lakers went 1-1-0 last weekend against #2 Quinnipiac at Mercyhurst Ice Center. Mercyhurst defeated the Bobcats 3-2 on Friday, Oct. 14. On Saturday, Oct. 15, the Lakers lost to Quinnipiac 1-0 in overtime.
• Mercyhurst received votes in the Oct. 17^th edition of the USCHO.com Division I Women's Hockey poll. They also received votes in Oct. 18^th edition of the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Division I Women's Hockey poll.
• The Lakers are ranked 8^th nationally in team-defense, giving up just 1.75 goals-per-game so far this season.
• Laker goaltender Jessica Convery was award College Hockey American Goalie of the Week honors after going 1-1-0 last weekend against Quinnipiac. She has a 1-1-1 record this season with a 1.06 goals-against-average and a .953 save-percentage.
• Brook Hartwick (1G, 2A) and Megan Whiddon (3A) are tied for the team lead in points. Eight Lakers are tied for second in points with one each.
• Hartwick and Rachael Smith had productive games against Cornell last season. Hartwick had a goal and an assist and Smith scored two goals in two games.

Game Notes

• To view live streams Friday's game, click here (see link for payment details). For Saturday's match, click here.
• For a live-stat link for both games, click here.

Next Time Out

• The Lakers travel to Robert Morris for their first two CHA games of the season next weekend. The first game will be played Friday, Oct. 28 at 3:00 p.m. They play a second game versus RMU on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2:00 p.m.