Dec. 11, 2007

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Mercyhurst moved up one spot to No. 5 this week in the latest USA Today/USA Hockey women's poll released this afternoon. The Lakers (13-3-2) split a pair of contests with then No. 1 New Hampshire (16-3-0) last weekend at the Ice Center, winning 4-3 and bowing 5-2. Harvard, riding an eleven-game winning streak to start the season, advanced from No. 2 to No. 1.

Harvard claimed 12 of 19 first-place votes, No. 2 New Hampshire picked up four, and third-place Minnesota-Duluth recorded three.

The rankings could change again after this weekend's activity: No. 5 Mercyhurst visits No. 8 Dartmouth Saturday and Sunday, No. 1 Harvard plays at No. 2 New Hampshire Friday, and No. 3 Minnesota Duluth travels to test No. 4 St. Lawrence Friday and Saturday.

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. Harvard (12)              11-0-0  	177	2
2. New Hampshire (4)         	9-0-0	171	1
3. Minnesota Duluth (3)      14-3-1	157	3
4. St. Lawrence	         13-3-0	122	4
5. Mercyhurst	         13-3-2	111	6
6. Minnesota	         13-4-1	110	5
7. Wisconsin	         12-6-2	75	7
8. Dartmouth	          9-2-1	55	8
9. Connecticut               11-4-1     29        10
10. St. Cloud State	         10-5-3	19	NR