No. 14/15 MERCYHURST (0-0-0, 0-0-0 AHA) vs. RENSSELAER (0-0-0, 0-0-0 ECAC)
Friday, Sept. 18 – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 – 1 p.m.
Erie, PA - Mercyhurst Ice Center
TV: FloHockey

The Mercyhurst women's hockey team opens its 2026-27 season this weekend, hosting RPI in a two-game, non-conference series at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The Lakers enter the year with high expectations, having been tabbed No. 2 in the Atlantic Hockey America Preseason Poll and picking up national recognition in both major polls — No. 15 in the USCHO.com Division I Women's Preseason Poll and No. 14 in the USA Hockey/AHCA Preseason Poll. Puck drop for game one is set for 6 p.m. Friday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center, with game two following Saturday at 1 p.m.

2026-27 Laker Stat Lines

Mercyhurst comes off a season a year ago that saw the Lakers go 23-11-3 overall and 19-6-2 in the AHA, advancing all the way to the AHA Championship game before falling as the tournament runner-up. That performance is the foundation behind this year's high preseason ranking, with the Lakers landing nationally in several key categories from a season ago: .295 powerplay percentage (4th nationally, 1st AHA), 33 powerplay goals (4th nationally), 115 goals (8th nationally), .876 penalty kill percentage (5th nationally, 1st AHA), and 320 team points (6th nationally).

Mercyhurst returns a veteran core that spread the wealth offensively last season, posting five or more goal-scorers in eight different games. Thirteen players finished with double-digit point totals, while the 14 newcomers on last year's roster combined for 156 of the team's 320 total points. 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). Regina Metzler (24 points, team-best +5) and Berlin Lolacher (19 points) also return to bolster the 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.

Matchup History

Mercyhurst holds a commanding 8-1-1 all-time record against RPI. The two programs last met on Oct. 15, 2022, and this weekend's series marks the continuation of a matchup that has historically favored the Lakers. Mercyhurst enters the series with a proud program history that includes 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and a national championship game appearance in 2009, along with 17 conference championship titles. RPI, meanwhile, brings a strong ECAC Hockey tradition to Erie, setting the stage for a competitive non-conference series between two established Division I programs.

Lakers to Look Out for

Julia Perjus enters her redshirt-sophomore season as one of the league's most dangerous playmakers after leading the team with 38 points (17G, 21A) a season ago. She was a driving force on both special teams units and earned AHA Preseason All-Conference honors heading into 2026-27.

Sofia Nuutinen, a senior and assistant captain, isn't far behind after posting 33 points (10G, 23A) last season. Until captain Makayla Javier returns to the lineup, Nuutinen will wear the "C" and serve as acting captain on the ice.

Makayla Javier, the Lakers' graduate-student captain, is set to return to the lineup this season after forgoing the remainder of last season due to injury 12 games in. Her return gives Mercyhurst back its full leadership trio alongside Nuutinen and fellow assistant captain Sofia Ljung — a group with more than 340 combined career games of experience.

Regina Metzler and Berlin Lolacher round out a deep group of returning scorers, with Metzler posting a team-best +5 rating and 24 points and Lolacher chipping in 19 points a season ago.

In net, Magdalena Luggin returns after one of the AHA's top netminding seasons, going 17-10-3 with a 2.12 GAA and a .926 save percentage. She anchors a Mercyhurst defense that ranked 5th nationally in penalty kill a year ago.

Head coach Mike Sisti enters his 28th season at the helm — still the only head coach the program has ever known — after becoming just the second Division I women's hockey coach to reach 600 career wins on Nov. 28, 2025, a 6-1 victory over Stonehill. His career record now stands at 613-262-69.

RPI Quick Hits

• The Engineers finished 2025-26 at 7-28-0 overall and 4-18-0 in ECAC play, a -74 goal differential (60 GF, 134 GA).
• RPI's offense was led by its power play, which converted 17-of-79 chances (21.5%) last season.
• The Engineers won 51.4% of their faceoffs, giving them a slight edge in possession situations.
• Kendal Davidson (8G), Mia Montanari (13A), and Georgia Bailey (35 PTS) lead the team in goals, assists, and points, respectively.