The Mercyhrust women's hockey team returns to Mercyhurst Ice Center to begin a 12-game stretch against CHA conference opponents to finish the regular season. The Lakers begin the stretch with a series against RIT this weekend Jan. 12-13 at 3 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Video: MERCYHURST LIVE STREAM
Statistics: LIVE STATISTICS
SETTING THE SCENE
This series against RIT marks the 23rd and 24th games of the season for Mercyhurst. It is the first home series for the Lakers since Dec. 15-16 when they split with Ohio State and the first home conference series since Dec. 8-9 against Syracuse.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Mercyhurst and RIT in the final two games of the 2016-17 regular season Feb. 25-26. The Lakers traveled to RIT to sweep the Tigers in two games by the combined score of 7-2. Sarah McDonnell recorded her last shutout in the second game, a 4-0 Lakers win. Sam Isbell scored goals in both games, including the game-winner in game one.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The Lakers hold a 18-4-0 all-time record against the Tigers dating back to RIT's initial Division I season in 2012-13. The Lakers hold a stout +50 goal differential (83-33) in those 22 games. Mercyhurst has averaged 3.77 goals per game all-time against RIT. Mercyhurst's current senior class holds a 11-2 overall record against RIT.
CRUNCH TIME
This series is the first of six-straight CHA conference series (12 games) to finish the regular season for Mercyhurst. Since the 2014-15 season, Mercyhurst has a 23-8-3 regular-season record in the second half of the season (Jan.-March) against CHA opponents. The Lakers have outscored their opponents 98-50 over that same span.
SISTI'S CHA SUCCESS
Lakers' head coach Mike Sisti now has 401 wins since the Lakers joined College Hockey America in the 2002-03 season. 190 of those wins are against CHA opponents. His winning percentage against CHA opponents since the 2002-03 season is .805 (190-29-17).
HARTWICK HEROICS
Mercyhurst senior forward Brooke Hartwick scored the game-winning goal in the third period to beat Bemidji State last week. It was her second game-winning score of the season (Dec. 1 @ RMU) and the fifth of her career. That ties fellow senior forward Sarah Robello for the most game-winning goals among current Lakers. Hartwick also leads all current Lakers in the following career categories: 34 goals, 10 power-play goals, and 65 points.
DEFENSIVE MEASURES
Mercyhurst's team defense currently ranks first in conference games, allowing just 1.25 goals per game through eight CHA games this season. Much of that is due to the Lakers' stout penalty kill which sits second in the conference at 90.9% (30-33) in CHA games (Syracuse 1st 93.9%, 46-49). Morgan Stacey holds the team led in blocked shots with 66 and Molly Blasen leads all blue liners in points with nine.
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
RIT enters the weekend searching for its first win 13 games. Its last win came back on Nov. 4 in a 2-1 OT victory over Boston University. The Tigers rank second in the conference in penalty minutes in CHA games with 88 in eight games (11 PIM/G). The lone win in conference for RIT came against Lindenwood on Oct. 27. The Tigers scored a season-high four goals in a 4-3 victory.
Junior forward Kendall Cornine is RIT's top scorer this season (7G, 4A) and the Tigers' career leader in points (40 Pts, 92 GP). She has two power-play markers this season and leads the team with 88 shots on goal. RIT's top 11 scorers are forwards.
Fellow junior forward Kandice Sheriff is the only other Tiger with double-digits points (3G, 7A). Sophomore goaltender Terra Lanteigne has spent the majority of time in between the pipes for the Tigers with 15 starts. She has a .919 save-percentage and a 3.36 goals against average.
