Mercyhurst's series preview

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Scouting Mercyhurst

Mercyhurst, 5-0, is off to its best start in the program’s history and has outscored the opposition 22-6. All six goals were scored by Boston University
last weekend. The Lakers began the 2002-03 season 4-0 before losing at St. Lawrence. Head coach Michael Sisti recorded his 200th career win in Saturday’s game. Mercyhurst allowed four power play goals to BU, the most given up in any one game in program history, in a wild 6-5 win last Friday. The Lakers finished 6-for-12 with the skater advantage in the two-game sweep.

Sophomore Meghan Agosta’s four-point game Saturday was the fifth in her career and first since a 5-2 win at Robert Morris in the conference playoffs last March. Junior Valerie Chouinard recorded her third career hat trick Friday. Freshmen Geena Prough (Friday) and Cassea Schols (Saturday) recorded their first collegiate goals. Sophomore defender Johanna Malmstrom recorded her first career point (an assist) in Friday’s 6-5 win. She was blanked last year in 28 games. Junior goalie Courtney Drennen picked up Friday’s win in relief and improved to 16-0-2 lifetime. The games against the Terriers were the first ever.

The Lakers have allowed only a combined 82 shots in their first five games, 16.4 per game. Senior goaltender Laura Hosier has 56 career wins and trails only Desi Clark’s 63. Sixteen different skaters have scored at least one point so far. The power play has proven to be lethal: 9-of-29 (.310).

Fun Facts
• Mercyhurst and Minnesota Duluth are meeting for the second and third times ever and first during the regular season. UMD defeated Mercyhurst 3-2 in overtime last March in Erie in the NCAA Quarterfinals. The loss was the lone setback at the Ice Center last season (17-1-2).

• Mercyhurst is ranked No. 2 in both USCHO.com and USA Today Polls; UMD is fifth in both.

• Head coach Michael Sisti picked up wins 199 and 200 last weekend. UMD coach Shannon Miller reached the 200-win plateau during the NCAA playoffs last March.

• Mercyhurst finished last season +42 in special teams’ play. The Lakers are +8 after five games this season.

• Senior forward Stephanie Jones is four points shy of 100. Sophomore Meghan Agosta now has 83 points in just 40 career games.

• Junior Hayley McMeekin is the first transfer to suit for the blue and green since Teresa Marchese came in 2003-04. She played in her 50th career game last Friday.

• Freshman Jesse Scanzano is the tallest player for the women’s program. At 6-0, she passed former Laker standout Seanna Murphy, who was 5-11.

• On the flip side, freshman Vicki Bendus (5-1) is the smallest player since Erin Finnerty (5-0) from the 1999-00 season.

• Mercyhurst has outscored its first five opponents 9-1 in the last 20 minutes.