Mercyhurst University Athletics

Ed Mailliard

Women's Ice Hockey 1/22/2021 2:30:00 PM Dan Richeal, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Women's Hockey Visits Penn State

Erie, PA—After playing a home and home series with the Robert Morris Colonials, the Mercyhurst Women's Hockey Team will hit the road to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions.

The Lakers were originally scheduled to head to Lindenwood to play the Lions, while Penn State was set to play RIT. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 protocols at both Lindenwood and RIT both set of games had to be postponed.

Laker Outlook
After winning three of four games against the RIT Tigers, the Lakers took the ice this past weekend to take on the Robert Morris in a home and home series that started in Erie. In the first game, Mercyhurst fell into a 2-0 hole. The Lakers started to climb out of the hole as Megan Korzack sped down the left side, drove to the net and tucked the puck past the Robert Morris goaltender. The Lakers got the goal that would tie the game from a deflection by Alexa Vasko late in the third period to send the game to overtime. Overtime solved nothing, as the Lakers and Colonials both earned their first ties of the season.
The teams then traveled to Moon Township to finish the weekend series. The Lakers jumped out to a 2-0 lead getting goals from Sara Boucher and Vasko. However, the Lakers could not hold the lead, the game once again went to overtime, this time the Colonials took the extra point as they scored at the 2:48 mark to win the game.

The Lakers have received all of their goals from the forward group this season. Leading the way has been Boucher, Boucher has tallied four goals while adding two assists to start her college hockey career. Right behind Boucher is Korzack who has scored three goals for the Lakers in her senior season, while adding two assists. Vasko is currently on a three-game goal streak, the 2019-20 CHA Defensive Forward of the Year has also added 14 blocks while winning 58% of her faceoffs.

Sophomore Jenna Silvonen has been the main goaltender for the Lakers this season. Slivonen has also been one of the best goalies in the CHA this season. She has posted 1.37 Goals Against Average, a .942 Save Percentage while having a 3-1-1 record and recording a shutout. Ena Nystrøm who came to Mercyhurst this season after playing her freshman year at RPI has appeared in one conference game this season. She recorded 21 saves on 22 shots in her Mercyhurst debut. Despite allowing only one goal and owning a .955 save percentage Nystrøm is still looking to pick up her first career win despite starting in 23 games at RPI and owning a .915 save percentage.

Scouting the Nittany Lions
The Nittany Lions are off to a 6-1-1 start while being ranked 9th in the country in the latest USCHO.com poll. Penn State has been dominate this season as they are currently outscoring their opponents 24-14 while outshooting them 330-234 through their first eight games.

Leading the way for the Nittany Lions has been freshman Kiara Zanon, she currently leads Penn State in goals (4), assists (7), and points (11). Senior Natalie Heising sits in second in points for the Blue and White as she has four goals and five assists to open the season. Zanon and Heising sit in the top two positions in CHA scoring.

Penn State has received 16 points from their defense core, leading the way has been junior Jessica Adolfsson who has accounted for three goals while adding an assist through the first 8 games.

In net for the Nittany Lions freshman Josie Bothun has started all eight games. She has stopped 220 of the 233 shots she has seen in her rookie year. Bothun sits atop the CHA leaderboard in winning percentage for goaltenders. She also has 1.60 Goals Against Average which places her in third among CHA Goalies.

BATTLE OF SPECIAL TEAMS
Mercyhurst has only allowing one goal on 23 powerplay opportunities this season, while converting three times on their 22 opportunities. Penn State has scored six times on 37 powerplay attempts while only allowing four powerplay goals on 29 attempts.

BEST VS. BEST
The Lakers currently owns the top spot in scoring defense in the conference, they have only 8 goals over the first 6 games. On average only giving up 1.33 goals a game. Penn State holds the top spot in scoring offense averaging 3 goals a game.

HONOR ROLL
Freshman Sara Boucher was named Rookie of the Week this past week, she has been off to a hot start tallying four goals and two assists in six games.

UP NEXT
The Lakers will host Syracuse on January 29th and 30th in Erie, in the first match up of the season for the Orange and Lakers.

Penn State will head to Lindenwood to play the Lions on the 29th and 30th.

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