BOSTON, Mass. - Mercyhurst Women's Ice Hockey has been tabbed No. 2 in the 2026-27 Atlantic Hockey America Preseason Poll, announced today by the league office. The nod reflects the high bar the Lakers set a season ago, when they went 23-11-3 overall (17-5-2 in AHA play) and advanced all the way to the AHA Championship game before falling as the tournament runner-up.
AHA Preseason Poll
- Penn State
- Mercyhurst
- Robert Morris
- Syracuse
- RIT
- Lindenwood
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The Lakers bring back a veteran core that powered last year's run. Forward Julia Perjus paced the offense with 38 points (17g, 21a) and was a driving force on both special teams units, while classmate Sofia Nuutinen wasn't far behind with 33 points (10g, 23a). Add in Regina Metzler (24 points, team-best +5) and Berlin Lolacher (19 points), and Mercyhurst returns much of its top scoring punch.
Perjus and goaltender Magdalena Luggin were both named to the AHA Preseason All-Conference Team, headlining the group behind Mercyhurst's high preseason ranking. Perjus enters the year as one of the league's most dangerous playmakers, while Luggin was one of the AHA's top netminders a season ago, going 17-10-3 with a 2.12 GAA and a .926 save percentage.
Mercyhurst opens the season at home against RPI on September 18 at 6 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
