Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey team opens their 2023-24 season this weekend as they welcome in Post.
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History Lesson
The Lakers are 2-0 all-time against Post, with the first matchups coming a season ago. The Lakers swept the weekend series against Post, winning 8-0 and 13-0.
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Experience
Experience is something that the Lakers have plenty of. The Lakers welcome back four of their top five leaders in points from a season ago. Back for the Lakers is Sara Boucher, who will garner the "C" this season. She led the team with 38 points on 17 goals and 21 assists, while also earning All-CHA Second team honors. Also, back for the Lakers are Thea Johansson and Vanessa Upson. Johansson was second on the team in points with 36, tallying 16 goals and 20 assists. Upson was fourth on the team with 28 points on 16 goals and 12 assists. They both earned All-CHA Second team honors, while Johansson was on the All-Rookie team as well. The Lakers also have their top defenseman back in Sydney Pedersen, who was fifth on the team with 25 points on 11 goals and 14 assists Pedersen also earned All-CHA Second team honors.
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Experience in Net
Back in the net for the Lakers is Ena Nystrom. Nystrom was 15-11-2 last season with a .924 save percentage. She earned All-CHA First team honors while winning Goaltender of the year. In her career Nystrom is 32-23-2 with a .931 save percentage and 8 shutouts. Her goals allowed average is 1.90.
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Coaching Staff
Head Coach Michael Sisti begins his 25th season as the head coach of the Lakers. The Lakers finished 21-14-2 a year ago. Sisti has a career record of 550-217-61 with the Lakers. Back again on the bench are assistants Trey Flesch, and Tommaso Bucci. The Lakers have also added another assistant this year in Emily Ach, who spent the past couple years as a graduate assistant at St. Cloud State.
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Look at the Opponent
Post finished with a record of 4-29-6 last year. They lost their two leading scorers in the off-season but returned their third leading scorer Maddy Noonan, who finished the year with 11 points on four goals and seven assists. They also return their starting goaltender Grace Glasrud who finished the season with a save percentage of .893.
Puck drop for Saturday's matchup is set for 5:00 PM, and puck drop for Sunday's matchup is set for 1:00 PM.
