Dec. 13, 2007

Erie, Pa. -

Complete Release in PDF Format

Mercyhurst closes the 2007 portion of its season Saturday and Sunday with road games at Dartmouth. The No. 5/6 Lakers, 13-3-2 overall, and Big Green, 9-2-1, will be meeting for the 9th and 10th times in history with Dartmouth holding a 5-2-1 advantage.

The Lakers are coming off a 1-1 split with former No. 1 New Hampshire last weekend. Mercyhurst edged the Wildcats 4-3 at the Ice Center last Friday before UNH scored the last five goals of the game in a 5-2 decision Saturday. Sophomore forward Meghan Agosta was named the USCHO and College Hockey America Offensive Player of the Week. Freshman Jesse Scanzano picked up conference Rookie of the Week honors. Agosta leads the team in goals (22), assists (14), and points (36). She is first nationally in shorthanded goals (5) and tied for first in game-winning markers (6).

Dartmouth won twice last weekend at Union (2-0) and at Rensselaer (6-4). The Big Green is led by sophomore forward Jenna Cunningham (12g, 15a, and 27 pts).

Saturday's contest starts at 2:00pm while Sunday's begins at 1:00pm.

Fast Facts

• Mercyhurst's 4-3 win over New Hampshire December 7 was its first ever success against a No. 1 team.

• Mercyhurst allowed its first shorthanded goal of the season in Saturday's 5-2 loss. UNH's four power play goals in that game equaled an opponent season high. Boston University had four October 12.

• Mercyhurst lost Saturday for the first time this season when leading after one period and for just the second time when scoring the first goal of the game.

• Sophomore Meghan Agosta has a 12-game scoring streak. She leads Division I in shorthanded goals with 5 and is tied for the top spot with six game-winning goals. Agosta has scored a third of Mercyhurst's total (22 of 66) and special teams' (10 of 30) goals this season.

• Mercyhurst and UNH combined for 102 minutes in penalties Saturday. The Lakers had 18 for 52 minutes. Prior season highs were 11 penalties against Boston University on October 13 and 23 minutes against Maine on October 6.

• The Lakers totaled 60 power play goals in 37 games last season. They have 23 so far this season in 18 games.

• Mercyhurst has seven shorthanded goals this season (Agosta 5). The Lakers had nine shorthanded goals in 2006-07.

• Mercyhurst had killed the last 29 opponent power play chances going back to the Clarkson series before New Hampshire scored on its third opportunity in Friday's game. • Senior goalie Laura Hosier has 62 career wins and 18 shutouts. Both are second place to all-time leader Desi Clark with 63 and 24.

• Mercyhurst finished last season +42 in special teams' play. The Lakers are +12 so far this season.

• Junior forward Valerie Chouinard has four power play goals this season and 28 in her career. She took over first place all-time recently from Stefanie Bourbeau, who finished her career last March with 25.

• Mercyhurst has outscored its first 18 opponents 25-6 in the first period. Dartmouth has outdistanced its 12 opponents 20-5 in the third.

• Mercyhurst and Dartmouth have played three common opponents: Boston University, Princeton, and Clarkson. The Lakers are a combined 4-1-1 against those teams and have outscored them 18-12. Dartmouth has played each team once, holds a combined 2-0-1 record and has outscored them a combined 12-9.

• Mercyhurst and Dartmouth are tied for 6th nationally in scoring offense. The Lakers are 7th and Dartmouth 9th in scoring defense. Mercyhurst is 4th and Dartmouth 5th in power play efficiency while the Big Green is tied for 10th and the Lakers are 14th in penalty kill.