SYRACUSE, NY -- The Mercyhurst University Women's Hockey team is back on the ice this week at the Tennity Ice Center on the campus of Syracuse University. The Lakers are coming into the match up having received votes in both of the latest USCHO.com and USA Today National Polls.
The Matchup
Mercyhurst and Syracuse's women's ice hockey programs have played one another 56 times in their all-time series. The Lakers hold a 43-10-3 record over the Orange in those games, the 43 wins are the fourth most wins against any team in Mercyhurst women's hockey history. The Lakers currently are on a five game win streak vs the Orange, most recently, Mercyhurst swept Syracuse back in February of this year by scores of 5-2, and 2-1.
Laker Overview
Last week, the Lakers made the trip down to Nashville, Tennessee to compete in the Smashville Women's Hockey Showcase. Mercyhurst joined Boston College, No.8 Colgate, and No.3 Minnesota as the four teams spent their Thanksgiving weekend playing hockey. In the Lakers first game, they squared off with No.3 Minnesota. Mercyhurst kept up with the Golden Gophers in the opening period, however Minnesota pulled away ultimately shutting out the Lakers 4-0.
In the consolation game against Boston College, Mercyhurst had 11 skaters score a point as they defeated the Eagles 4-2.
Sarah Nelles scored the eventual game-winning goal which was the seniors first of the season.
Up Front
The top two lines for the Lakers have paced the forward group this season. All six of the attackers have at least 10 points and are led by freshman sensation
Vanessa Upson. Upson's 11 goals and 21 points leads all of Division I freshmen.
Sara Boucher is second on the team with 16 points (7g,9a), right behind her is
Kristy Pidgeon (7g,8a) and Liliane Pereault (2g,13a) who both have 15 points. Rounding out the six skaters is
Alexa Vasko (6g,7a) and
Chantal Ste-Croix (6g,4a).
On the Blueline
The Laker defensemen scored a season-high four points in Mercyhurst's 4-2 win over Boston College last Saturday.
K.K. Thiessen,
Mary Sweetapple,
Sydney Pedersen, and
Jordan Mortlock all were credited with an assist in the contest against the Eagles. Pedersen continues to lead the group in points as she has 10 (1g,9a) in her freshman campaign. Along with Pedersen,
Jordan Mortlock and
Jersey Phillips are the other two blueliners to have put the puck in the back of the net this season for Mercyhurst.
The Last Line of Defense
Both
Jenna Silvonen and Ena Nystrøm started a game last week in between the pipes for head coach Mike Sisti. Nystrøm had a couple of terrific saves against No.3 Minnesota posting 35 in the contest. Silvonen continued her hot November by stopping 24 of the 26 Boston College shots she saw. The junior from Lohja, Finland was awarded CHA Goaltender of the Month as she put up a 3-0-1 record with a .940 save percentage in November.
Where They Rank
Jenna Silvonen and Ena Nystrøm remain leading the conference in Save Percentage and Goals Allowed Average respectfully. Silvonen currently leads with a 1.78 GAA and Nystrøm remains leading in save percentage at .929.
Vanessa Upson remains leading the conference in goals (11) and points (21), the freshman also leads in +/- with a +14 rating. Liliane Perrault is now tied with Kiara Zanon of Penn State with 13 assists to pace the CHA.
Scouting The Orange
Syracuse will enter Friday's contest with the Lakers with a 5-7-3 record and a 4-2-0 mark in CHA play. The Orange are led by Senior forward Abby Moloughney who has scored 13 points (6g,7a) throughout the teams first 15 games this season. In net for the Orange, Arielle DeSmet has started 10 games in between the pipes. She has a 4-4-3 record while posting a 2.31 GAA.
CHA 20 in 20
As part of our recognition of the CHA's 20th season this year, CHA officials have voted on the CHA's top 20 players of the league's first 20 seasons. The #CHA20in20 honorees will be revealed individually starting on Nov. 30 with two players being recognized Tuesdays and Thursdays each week from Nov. 30-Dec. 16 and Jan 4-Feb. 17.
Jesse Scanzano was the first honoree to be revealed this past Tuesday. Scanzano, a 2011 graduate of Mercyhurst, was a three time All-College Hockey America Selection (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11) and a member of the CHA Rookie team in 2007-08. She ranks No. 2 in career points (225) and assists (140) and seventh in goals (85) in CHA history. As a junior in 2009-10, the Montreal, Que., native was a Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 finalist and earned AHCA All-America honors as the Lakers captured the CHA regular season and postseason titles and reached the Frozen Four for the second consecutive season.
Up Next
The Lakers will take an extended break after this series with Syracuse. The break will last just a little over a month with the team returning to play on January 7th back in the MIC against Long Island University.
