ERIE, Pa. -- The Mercyhurst women's hockey team hosts its second-straight home series when it welcomes CHA-opponent Lindenwood to Mercyhurst Ice Center Jan. 19-20.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Place: Mercyhurst Ice Center
Dates: January 19-20
Times: Friday @ 3:00 p.m. | Saturday @ 2:00 p.m.
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MERCYHURST ATHLETICS |
MERCYHURST WOMEN'S HOCKEY
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS NIGHT
Saturday's game will be Mercyhurst's annual breast cancer awareness night. Over the past 17 years, the Mercyhurst women's ice hockey program has raised $40,000 through its breast cancer awareness games and additional community service. The Lakers will wear pink sweaters for Saturday's game.
SETTING THE SCENE
This series against Lindenwood marks the 25th and 26th of the season for Mercyhurst. These games also mark the third and fourth games against Lindenwood for the Lakers this season, and are the final two games of the current four-game home-stand for the Lakers.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Mercyhurst and Lindenwood played each other on Lindenwood's homecoming weekend back in October for both team's first CHA games of the season. Lindenwood took game one 3-2 on Friday, Oct. 13. Mercyhurst rebounded in a big way in game two on Saturday with a 6-1 win. The Lakers six goals were the most they had scored in a game to that date in the season. Six different Lakers scored in the game.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Mercyhurst holds a 21-5-1 overall advantage in the all-time series against the Lions. The Lakers +96 goal differential (141-35) against Lindenwood is its largest differential against all current College Hockey America (CHA) opponents. The Lakers 141 goals is the fourth-highest total Mercyhurst has scored against an opponent in program history.
BACK ON TOP
After its two victories last weekend against RIT, Mercyhurst took over sole possession of first place in the CHA standings. The last time Mercyhurst was alone at the top of the conference standings was the final standing in the 2015-16 season. The Lakers edged Syracuse by just one point (31-30) to earn the regular season crown.
HOME COOKING
The Lakers are winners of three-straight and have won five of their last six games at Mercyhurst Ice Center entering the weekend. Mercyhurst now holds a winning record on home ice (6-5-1) after beginning the season 0-3-1. The Lakers have outscored their opponents 24-10 over the past six home games.
NEARING THE CENTURY MARK
Mercyhurst has three players on its roster that can reach over 100 career games played before the end of the regular season. Juniors
Samantha Fieseler (91),
Morgan Stacey (92), and
Sarah Hine (93) would join seniors
Brooke Hartwick (129),
Jennifer MacAskill (127), and
Callie Paddock (105) in the Lakers' 100-game club.
LATE-GAME PERFORMERS
Mercyhurst outscored its opponents 21-17 in the 2nd period and 30-13 in the 3rd period this season compared to being outscored 16-22 in the first period. Mercyhurst has won all seven games it has led entering the third period.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Lindenwood ranks fourth in the CHA standings with a 4-6 conference record and a 6-13-1 overall mark. The Lions have won three of their last five games, including wins against #10 St. Lawrence and Penn State. Despite having the least power-play chances among all CHA teams, Lindenwood has the highest power-play conversion rate in the conference at 16.9% (10/59).
The Lions are led in scoring by sophomore forward Taylor Girard who ranks second in the CHA with 21 points and 12 goals (Brittany Howard RMU 30 pts, 18G). Girard recorded a point on three of LU's four goals in the last season against Mercyhurst Oct. 13-14. Girard did not play last weekend against Penn St.
Freshman forward Sierra Burt, sophomore forward Cierra Paisley, and sophomore defenseman Courtney Ganske are tied for second on the team with 13 points each. Junior Jolene deBruyn is the primary goaltender for Lions, accumulating a 5-11-1 record in 18 starts with a 2.97 GAA and .914 SV%.
