Erie, Pa. - The Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey team is set to open their 2024-25 campaign this weekend when they host the defending ECAC Champions and the number four team in the country, the Colgate Raiders.
Laker Outlook
The Lakers are coming off a season in which they finished 20-17-1 overall and 14-6-0 in CHA play. In the CHA Championship a season ago, the Lakers fell in a heartbreaker 1-0 to Penn State. The Lakers enter their first season in the newly formed Atlantic Hockey America Conference. Head Coach Mike Sisti enters his 26th season behind the bench for the Lakers. Sisti earned his third straight 20+ win season and his fourth in the last five years.
Returning Stats Leaders
All-CHA Second Team selection Vanessa Upson is back for the Lakers. Upson posted 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points a season ago. All-CHA First Team Selection Sydney Pedersen also returns for the Lakers. In an injury shortened season, Pedersen posted 7 goals and 19 assists for 26 points. Before the injury, Pedersen was the leader in assists and points by a defenseman in the CHA. Thea Johansson is back for her junior season and Sofia Nuutinen is back for her sophomore season. Johansson led the Lakers with 19 goals a season ago. Nuutinen led the Lakers in assists with 23, while adding 11 goals for 34 points. She finished the season in the top three in the country in points by a freshman. Upson will garner the "C" for Head Coach Mike Sisti, while Mary Kromer, Megan McKay, and Sydney Pedersen will all garner the "A" this season.
A Look at Colgate
The Raiders finished 32-7-1 a season ago and won their fourth straight ECAC Title. The Raiders made a run all the way to the Frozen Four, where they fell to Wisconsin 3-1. In the preseason rankings, the Raiders were tabbed as the #4 team in the country to start the season. Returning for the Raiders is Kristyna Kaltounkova, who led them in goals with 27 a season ago. Also returning is Hannah Murphy, who appeared in 22 games a season ago, posting a 1.22 GAA and a .946 save percentage.
