Feb. 20, 2008

Erie, Pa. -

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No. 7 Mercyhurst (21-6-3, CHA 6-1-1) and Wayne State (18-7-3, 6-1-1) get together again this weekend in Detroit with the Lakers looking for better results than the first two meetings in Erie earlier this month. The Warriors took three of a possible four points from the Lakers with a 5-4 win in overtime and a 2-2 overtime tie. Both teams are tied for first place in College Hockey America with 6-1-1 marks.

Wayne State's win on Friday, February 8, was its first ever against Mercyhurst, which leads the all-time series 31-1-3. Wayne State trailed for only three minutes in the two-game series. After an early Mercyhurst power play goal in the opener, the Warriors built a 4-1 lead before the Lakers rallied to force overtime. Wayne State led 2-0 in the third period of Saturday's game before Mercyhurst rallied again.

The Lakers will conclude regular season play the following weekend with a conference home-and-home series against Robert Morris. Wayne State ends regular season play with home games against CHA-rival Niagara.

Fast Facts

• Meghan Agosta didn't play against Niagara last weekend. She had a 20-game scoring streak snapped in the 5-4 loss in overtime to Wayne State on February 8. She rebounded with an assist the next day.

• Mercyhurst played three lines and four defenders in the weekend series with the Purple Eagles. The Lakers top three scorers entering the series either didn't play or were held in check.

• Junior Valerie Chouinard, the team's second leading scorer, hasn't had a point in her last three games. She played in her 100th career game last Saturday. She is the 6th player on the roster with 100-or-more career games.

• Freshman Vicki Bendus had four goals in the two games. Her three goals and five points Friday were one-game highs. She scored two power play goals Friday and the game-winner. The game-winner was her first. She had only one power play goal in her first 29 games this season.

• Freshman Geena Prough extended her scoring streak to six games.

• Freshman Jesse Scanzano had a seven-game scoring streak come to an end last Saturday in game two against the Purple Eagles.

• Senior Stephanie Jones stepped up with a four-point weekend. She scored twice and had an assist in Friday's game and assisted Saturday. Both assists came on the game-winning goals. Jones two-goal effort Friday was her second such game of the season and her three points represented the fourth time she'd done that in 2007-08. She has a 4-game scoring streak.

• Senior Sherilyn Fraser had her third goal of the season in Saturday's win while freshman Melissa Lacroix tallied her second of the season. Fraser's 2-point effort Saturday was her second of the season. Both have come in the last four games.

• Mercyhurst has ten shorthanded goals this season (Agosta 7). The one-season mark of 11 was set in 2004-2005. The Lakers had nine shorthanded goals last year.

• Mercyhurst has scored multiple power play goals in ten games this season. 28 of the team's 39 have come in those contests.

• After scoring on their first power play chance of the two-game series against Wayne State, the Lakers are just two of their last 17.

• Mercyhurst had 60 power play goals in 37 games last season; the Lakers have 39 in 30 games in 2007-08.

• 17 of the 28 power play goals Mercyhurst has allowed this season have come in six games.

• Senior goalie Laura Hosier has 69 career wins and 20 shutouts. She took over the career lead in wins at Providence earlier this season and is second to Desi Clark's team record 24 shutouts.

• Mercyhurst finished last season +42 in special teams' play. The Lakers are +18 so far this season.

• Junior forward Valerie Chouinard has seven power play goals this season and 31 in her career. She took over first place all-time this season from Stefanie Bourbeau, who finished her career last March with 25.

• Mercyhurst has trailed only four times this season after the first period (1-3-0).