ERIE, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Women's Hockey will host another CHA series in the MIC on Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, against Syracuse. Puck drop will be 1:00 p.m. on both days.
This series was postponed earlier in the season due to the weather.
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Previously on the Ice
The Lakers took on the Nittany Lions of Penn State. The team fell in both games but forced overtime in game two. Vanessa Upson tallied three points on the campaign.
Analyzing Syracuse
The last time these two teams met was in the 2022 CHA Championship Game. The Orange took the game in an exhausting 2-3 battle.
The Orange is second place in the CHA currently with a conference record of 6-4 (9-17-1 overall).
Sarah Thompson leads the team in points posting 12 on the season. Lauren Bellefontaine holds the most assists (17) and points (25).
Playoff Picture
The Lakers are third place in the CHA currently with 10 points, with Penn State sitting at the helm.
The team needs a sweep against Syracuse this weekend to bump the Orange from second place in the conference.
Preseason Poll
The Lakers were picked to finish third in the College Hockey America (CHA) Coaches' Preseason Poll.
The team received 15 points while Penn State was at the helm with 20.
Preseason Recognition
Sophomore, Vanessa Upson, was named the CHA Preseason Player of the Year. The Stoney Creek, Ont., native had a spectacular rookie season as she not only led the CHA in points in conference play with 22 on 12 goals and 10 assists, but also finished the 2021-22 season as the nation's freshman leader in points and goals scored with 39 and 19, respectively, and was also tied for first in assists with 20 throughout her rookie campaign.
Vanessa Upson, Sydney Pedersen, and Ena Nystrom all earned spots on the Preseason All-CHA Team.
2022-23 Captains
Liliane Perreault will wear the "C" on her sweater this season. Alternate Captains, Vanessa Upson, and Sara Boucher will represent the Lakers as well.
A Look at the Roster
27 players represent the Lakers in the 2022-23 season. They are broken down into three graduate students, four seniors, six juniors, seven sophomores, and seven freshmen.
The team has athletes from the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Norway.
24 Years with Coach Sisti
Head Coach Michael Sisti is on his 24th campaign with the Lakers. He is the only head coach the program has ever known.
Sisti has turned a small-college women's hockey program into one of Division I's premier powers. The Lakers have won 508 games, have captured 17 regular season conference titles and 15 conference championship titles, and made 10 consecutive trips to the national tournament - an NCAA record - before the streak was halted in the 2014 season. Sisti has 336 wins compared to just 42 losses in conference play during his tenure as the Lakers' head coach.
2021-22 Season
The Lakers wrapped up the season with a record of 21-12-2. The team made it to the CHA finals where they faced Syracuse. They lost the game with a one-goal deficit.
