Jan. 23, 2008

Erie, Pa. -

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Mercyhurst (7-14-3, AH 7-6-3), currently No. 4 in Atlantic Hockey and 5-1-1 in its last seven conference games, continues its six-game road trip with two games at Bentley (No. 7, 6-13-3, AH 6-7-3) this Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 7:05.

The Lakers own a 22-5-2 lifetime record against the Falcons and swept both games in Erie last season by 7-4 and 5-2 scores. The Lakers went 0-1-1 last weekend at UConn, playing to a 3-3 overtime tie and dropping a 3-2 verdict.

Meanwhile, Bentley split a pair of games at Holy Cross, winning 6-4 and losing 4-2. Both Bentley and Holy Cross occupy the No. 7 spot in the conference with 15 points, just two behind the fourth place Lakers.

Fast Facts

• The Lakers were 5-0-1 in their last six conference games before bowing at UConn 3-2 last Saturday.

• Senior Ben Cottreau has a 9-game scoring streak and has moved into 10th place in all-time scoring with 143 career points.

• The Lakers have scored a power play goal in four straight contests and in six of their last seven games.

• Freshman Scott Pitt's game-tying goal Friday was his first even strength goal of the season. He has 5 career goals; four have been power play.

• Freshman Brandon Coccimiglio has seven goals; five have come on the power play.

• The Lakers have scored more than three goals in a game only five times in their first 24 contests.

• Mercyhurst has played five overtime games this season. They played a club-record ten last year.

• Mercyhurst has been outshot in 16 of 24 games and has won only one time (RIT) when trailing after two periods.

• Only four players (Cottreau, Coccimiglio, Pitt, and Brett Robinson) have multiple-points so far this season. Robinson's goal Friday at UConn Friday was his 10th point.

• The Lakers were picked to finish fourth this season in the 10-team Atlantic Hockey Association's pre-season coaches' poll. Bentley was picked ninth.

• The Lakers are fourth in the conference at the moment; Bentley is tied for seventh with Holy Cross, but only two points behind the Lakers.