University Park, Pa. – The Mercyhurst Lakers and Penn State Nittany Lions will battle for the Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Championship this weekend, with a conference title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line. The Lakers are looking to capture their first AHA Championship since 2020, while Penn State looks to claim their third straight conference title. 

Series History 

Penn State won the regular season series 3-1, taking both games in Erie and game one in State College, but the Lakers won the most recent matchup in State College, 3-2.   

This marks the third straight year that these two programs will face off in the AHA Championship and the fourth straight year that the Lakers will play in the AHA Championship. 

Laker Outlook 

Mercyhurst (20-15-2, 13-6-1 AHA) enters the championship game riding momentum from their AHA Semifinal series win over Syracuse. The Lakers bounced back from a 1-0 shutout loss in Game 1 to win the series with back-to-back dominant performances (4-0, 5-2). 

The Lakers have been led offensively by Vanessa Upson (13G, 30A, 43 PTS) and Julia Schalin (14G, 18A, 32 PTS), while Thea Johansson (16G, 12A, 28 PTS) continues to be a key scoring threat. On defense, Megan McKay (5G, 18A, 23 PTS) has provided additional offense from the blue liners. 

In net, Jorden Mattison (1.84 GAA, .929 SV%) and Magdalena Luggin (1.82 GAA, .931 SV%) have anchored a Lakers defense that has allowed just 1.9 goals per game this season. 

Special teams could be a difference-maker, as Mercyhurst's power play (19.1%) will look to capitalize against Penn State's penalty kill. 

Scouting Penn State 

Penn State (30-5-1, 19-1-0 AHA) has been dominant all season, winning the AHA regular season title for the third straight year. The Nittany Lions boast one of the nation's best offenses, averaging 3.6 goals per game, while allowing just 1.5 goals per game defensively. 

The Nittany Lions are led by Tessa Janecke (24G, 28A, 52 PTS) and Maddy Christian (20G, 11A, 31 PTS), while Katelyn Roberts (10G, 23A, 33 PTS) adds additional offensive firepower. 

Defensively, goaltender Katie DeSa (1.38 GAA, .934 SV%) has been a brick wall for Penn State, posting nine shutouts on the season. 

The Nittany Lions have also excelled in special teams, with a power play converting at 17.7% and a strong penalty kill at 84.6%. 

Keys to the Game 

• Contain Penn State's Top Scorers – Janecke and Christian are two of the top offensive players in the AHA. Mercyhurst's defense will need to limit their scoring chances. 

• Win the Goaltending Battle – Mattison and Luggin have been strong in net, but they'll need to match DeSa's stellar play to keep the game within reach. 

• Special Teams Execution – With two strong defenses, power play opportunities will be critical. Mercyhurst must capitalize on any man-advantage situations. 

Up Next 

The winner of the AHA Championship will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the loser will await the selection committee's decision on a potential at-large bid.