Erie, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers Women's Ice Hockey team returns to the ice this weekend as they welcome Saint Michael's College for a two-game series this weekend. The Lakers aim to bounce back after dropping a close series to Penn State and look to get off to a hot start in the second half of the season.
History
This is the first-ever meeting between Mercyhurst and Saint Michael's College. The Lakers will look to leverage home-ice advantage and their depth to secure a crucial weekend sweep.
Laker Outlook
Mercyhurst (7-11-1, 4-4-0 AHA) enters the weekend with a balanced offensive attack. Julia Schalin has led the way with six goals and five assists for 11 points, while Vanessa Upson continues to be a playmaking force with a team-high 11 assists. Thea Johansson and Sofia Nuutinen have also contributed significantly to the Lakers' scoring.
Defensively, the Lakers have leaned on the solid goaltending duo of Jorden Mattison and Magdalena Luggin. Mattison boasts a 1.89 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage, while Luggin has a .933 save percentage in eight starts. Both goaltenders will be key in limiting Saint Michael's offensive opportunities.
A Look at Saint Michael's College
The Purple Knights (1-17, 1-13 NEWHA) have faced a tough season to this point, but look to play spoiler. Julia Chedel leads the team with two goals and two assists for four points, while Elisabeth Gerebi has chipped in three points.
In net, Jordana DeMarinis and Annika Lavender have split time, with DeMarinis posting a .907 save percentage. Saint Michael's has struggled offensively, averaging just 0.7 goals per game, but their goaltending and penalty kill have shown resilience.
What to Watch For
Next Up
Following the series against Saint Michael's, the Lakers will return to Atlantic Hockey play with a series against Syracuse. Puck drop for game one is set for 6 PM.
