Jan. 7, 2008

Minneapolis, Minn. - Although idle since December 16, Mercyhurst continued to inch its way up the ladder in the latest USCHO.com/USA Today Polls released this week. Mercyhurst, 14-4-2 overall, moved to No. 4 to begin the New Year.

The Lakers, idle since December 16, will be tested next weekend when they travel to Providence for Saturday and Sunday games against the Friars. Providence (8-8-2) has won six of its last eight including a two-game sweep (3-0, 4-0) at Niagara last weekend.

The complete USCHO.com poll is as follows:

Team (First Place)	         Record	Pts	Last Week
1. New Hampshire (12)        18-3-0  	147	1
2. Minnesota Duluth (1)      16-3-1	132	2
3. Harvard (2)               13-1-0	126	3
4. Mercyhurst	         14-4-2	96	5
5. Minnesota 	         14-4-2	84	4
6. Wisconsin	         14-6-2	76	7
7. St. Lawtence	         14-6-0	61	6
8. Dartmouth	         11-4-1	30	8
9. St. Cloud State	         12-5-3	26	9
10. Connecticut              13-4-3     19        9

The USCHO.com Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 15 voters, including 12 coaches of Division I programs and three women's hockey writers. USCHO.com provides in-depth coverage of college sports, including hockey, lacrosse, soccer and others.

ABOUT THE POLL: The 11th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the American Hockey Coaches Association and USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

Team (First Place)	         Record	Pts	Last Week
1. New Hampshire (18)        18-3-0  	189	1
2. Minnesota Duluth          16-3-1	170	2
3. Harvard (1)               13-1-0	152	3
4. Mercyhurst	         14-4-2	119	6
5. Minnesota	         14-4-2	118	4
6. Wisconsin	         14-6-2	98	7
7. St. Lawrence	         14-6-0	82	5
8. Dartmouth	         11-4-1	45	8
9. Connecticut               13-4-3     40        9
10. Boston College	          8-6-3	13	NR