Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey team returns to conference action this weekend with a highly anticipated series against the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Puck drop is set for Friday at 3 PM and Saturday at 1 PM. The Lakers will look to carry momentum from their split against New Hampshire, while the Nittany Lions aim to extend their impressive AHA record. 

History 

Mercyhurst holds a narrow edge in the all-time series against Penn State, boasting a 25-18-9 record.  The Lakers won the first matchup a season ago, but the Nittany Lions won the next four including 1-0 in the CHA Championship game.  The Nittany Lions have won 7 of the last 8 matchups, but the Lakers boast a 13-6-5 record at home in the series history.  The Lakers average 2.67 goals per game in the series.    

Laker Outlook 

Mercyhurst (7-9-1, 4-2-0 AHA) enters the series after a strong 4-1 win over New Hampshire, powered by multi-point performances from Jade Maisonneuve and Marielle Parks. Vanessa Upson continues to lead the Lakers in scoring with 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists), while Thea Johansson tops the team in goals with six. Jorden Mattison has been a standout in goal, recording three shutouts this season and a .929 save percentage. 

The Lakers' special teams have shown improvement, with a power-play conversion rate of 14.0% and a penalty kill operating at 74.3%.  The Lakers are posting 1.9 goals per game and are limiting opponents to 1.9 goals per game as well. 

A Look at Penn State 

The Nittany Lions (13-4-1, 6-0-0 AHA) come into the series as the top team in the AHA, having gone unbeaten in conference play. Offensively, Penn State is led by Tessa Janecke, who has 25 points (11 goals, 14 assists), and Maddy Christian, who has contributed 18 points (12 goals, 6 assists). The Nittany Lions average 3.56 goals per game, while holding opponents to just 1.61 goals per contest. 

Defensively, Penn State has been stellar, with Katie DeSa and Lauren Barbro sharing goaltending duties. DeSa boasts a .925 save percentage, while Barbro has been equally impressive with a .913 save percentage. The Nittany Lions' penalty kill is dominant at 86.6%, and their power play is converting at a rate of 20.3%. 

What to Watch For 

• Tessa Janecke and Maddy Christian will test Mercyhurst's defense with their dynamic offensive play. 

• A goaltending battle between Mercyhurst's Jorden Mattison and Penn State's Katie DeSa could be pivotal. 

• Special teams play will be crucial, as Penn State's potent power play matches up against Mercyhurst's penalty kill. 

• A battle between Tessa Janecke and Vanessa Upson in the face-off dot.  Both Janecke and Upson are in the top ten in the country in face-off wins.   

Next Up 

After their series with Penn State, the Lakers will be off until after the new year.  They will return to action on January 4 and 5 with a series against Saint Michaels College.