Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Women's Ice Hockey team returns home this weekend as they face the Cornell Big Red in a two-game non-conference series. The Lakers are looking to rebound after a challenging start to the season, while Cornell will be playing their first games of the 2024-25 campaign. 

History 

The Lakers lead the all-time series 17-15-6.  The Lakers saw early success in the series history, winning the first 12 matchups.  As of late it has been the Big Red finding success, winning six of the last eight matchups.  The Lakers and the Big Red played last season, game one ended in a tie, and the Big Red managed to take game two. 

Laker Outlook 

The Lakers received votes in the USCHO poll and were ranked T15 in the USA Hockey/Rink Live poll. Mercyhurst enters the weekend with a 1-5 record, having dropped four of their first five games. The went 0-2 this past weekend against St. Lawrence.  The Lakers were shutout in game one 3-0 and fell 2-1 in game two.  Offensively, Thea Johansson leads the team with 3 goals, while Vanessa Upson has been the playmaker, contributing 4 assists. Sofia Nuutinen has added 3 assists.  Upson ranks in the top ten in the country in face-off wins with 64.   

In net, Jorden Mattison has carried the load, posting a .896 save percentage across four starts. Magdalena Luggin has also been solid in both of her appearances, making 71 saves with a .947 save percentage.  

A Look at Cornell 

Cornell begins their season after an impressive 2023-24 campaign, finishing with a 25-8-1 overall record and earning a spot in the NCAA tournament. The Big Red enter the season ranked #6 in both the USCHO and USA Hockey/Rink Live poll. The Big Red boast a balanced attack, led by returning top scorer Lily Delianedis (16 goals, 18 assists). Defensively, Cornell allowed just 1.9 goals per game last season, with Annelies Bergmann returning in net after posting a .927 save percentage. 

Cornell's defensive unit, anchored by Grace Dwyer and Rory Guilday, is expected to continue its stingy play. The Big Red's ability to control possession and generate high-quality scoring chances will put pressure on the Mercyhurst defense. 

What to Watch For 

• Johansson and Upson's Offensive Play: Mercyhurst will look to their leading scorers Thea Johansson and Vanessa Upson to break through Cornell's strong defensive unit.  

• Goaltending Duel: With Jorden Mattison and Magdalena Luggin splitting duties for Mercyhurst, their performances will be key to slowing down Cornell's potent offense. Meanwhile, Cornell's Annelies Bergmann will be aiming to start the season strong after an impressive campaign last year. 

• Cornell's Balanced Attack: The Big Red's depth on offense, led by Lily Delianedis, will challenge the Lakers defensively. Mercyhurst will need to maintain a structured defensive system to contain Cornell's high-powered forwards. 

• Special Teams Impact: Both teams will look to capitalize on special team opportunities. Mercyhurst will aim to improve their power play, while Cornell's disciplined penalty kill will be a key factor. 

Next Up 

Following their series against Cornell, the Lakers travel to #2/#2 Ohio State for a Tuesday night game against the Buckeyes.  Puck drop in Columbus is set for 6 PM.