Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey returns home for a CHA showdown with rival Penn State.  The Lakers will look to get back in the win column against the team that beat them in the CHA Finals a season ago.  The Lakers come into this matchup with Penn State with a record of 5-10-1 overall and 2-2 in the CHA.     

1. History Lesson 

The Lakers and the Nittany Lions played five times a season ago, including a matchup in the CHA Finals.  The Lakers grabbed game two at Penn State in early November last year.  In that game Sara Boucher, Thea Johansson, and Sydney Pedersen all scored in a 3-1 win.  The Nittany Lions won the other four matchups, including a 2-1 win in the CHA Final. The Nittany Lions outscored the Lakers 15-9 in those matchups a season ago.  The Lakers currently lead the all-time series against the Nittany Lions 24-14-9.    

2. Flashback 

This past week, the Lakers traveled to Princeton for a matchup with the #14 team in the country.  Princeton came away with a series sweep, winning 4-3 in game one and 5-1 in game two.  In game one, Princeton took a 2-0 lead early in the second period, but the Lakers made it 2-1 on a goal by Sara Boucher.  Princeton made it 3-1, but the Lakers scored again to make it 3-2.  This time it was Olivia Cvar who scored for the Lakers.  Princeton scored again to make it 4-2 before Sofia Nuutinen scored to make it 4-3, but time expired and Princeton took game one.  In game two, the lone Laker goal was scored by Megan McKay.  Princeton led from start to finish in a 5-1 win.  Sofia Nuutinen had the lone assist on the McKay goal.  Olivia Cvar earned Forward of the Week in the CHA and Sofia Nuutinen earned Rookie of the Week.     

3. Stats Leaders 

Sydney Pedersen leads the team in assists with 13, points with 16, and blocked shots with 31.  Pedersen leads the CHA in assists and is tied for the lead in points.  Sara Boucher leads the team in goals with eight and is second in the CHA in goals.  Boucher is also tied for second with Vanessa Upson in assists with seven.  Thea Johansson and Marielle Parks are tied for second in goals with six.  Ena Nystrom is 5-9-1 with a .913 save percentage, 2.77 goals allowed average, and 440 saves.   

4. A Look at the Opponent 

The Penn State Nittany Lions are 5-6-1 overall and 4-0 in the CHA.  The Nittany Lions are on a four-game winning streak after sweeping Syracuse and Lindenwood in back-to-back weekends, and currently sit in first in the CHA.  Tessa Janecke leads the team in assists with 10 and points with 11.  Mya Vaslet leads the team in goals with four.  Josie Bothun is 5-6-1 in net with a .907 save percentage, 2.51 goals against average, and 294 saves.   

5. Milestones 

Sara Boucher, Chantal Ste-Croix, and Grace Nelles all skated in their 100th career game this year.  Boucher also recorded her 100th career point for the Lakers earlier this year.  This past weekend Ena Nystrom recorded her 2000th career save against Princeton. 

Puck-drop for Friday's match is set for 7 PM inside the Mercyhurst Ice Center.