NCAA Women’s Division I quarterfinal
What: Boston University (17-8-12) at No. 1 Mercyhurst (29-2-3)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center
On the air: Image Sports/WQLN (television), www.b2livetv.com (live stream), www.ErieRadio.com (Internet radio), www.hurstathletics.com/www.ncaasports.com (live stats)
Players to watch
Mercyhurst – G Hillary Pattenden (28-2-3 record, 1.59 goals-against average, .921 save percentage, 5 shutouts), F Vicki Bendus (27 goals, 35 assists, 62 points), F Jesse Scanzano (20-42-62), F Bailey Bram (27-27-54), F Jess Jones (20-25-45)
BU – F Melissa Anderson (21-18-39), G Melissa Haber (15-7-8, 2.01, .923, 4 SO), F Lauren Cherewyk (12-17-29), F Jill Cardella (12-14-26), F Jillian Kirchner (9-17-26)
Vicki Bendus (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)
Fast facts
Mercyhurst – The Lakers are playing in the NCAA quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive year and hosting for the third time in the past four years. … They snapped a four-year quarterfinal losing streak in 2009 with a 3-1 home win against St. Lawrence. … The Lakers enter the tournament on a nine-game winning streak. They have outscored opponents 54-8 during the streak. … Scanzano, Bendus and Bram, three of the nation’s top four scorers, lead the nation’s No. 1 scoring offense (4.76 goals per game) and No. 2 power play (24.1 percent). … The Lakers have eight players with at least 20 points. … The Lakers lead the nation in penalty minutes (15.9 per game). But they also have the fourth-ranked penalty kill (90.5 percent) and set a NCAA record with 21 short-handed goals. … They have allowed only three power-play goals in the last 13 games. … The Lakers are tied for fourth in scoring defense (1.62 goals per game). They have allowed two goals or fewer in 29-of-34 games. … The Lakers have won three of four career games against the Terriers. But BU won the last meeting, 3-2 on Oct. 11, 2008. … The Lakers are 4-1-1 against NCAA tournament teams. They split a series with Minnesota Duluth, swept Cornell and went 1-0-1 against Clarkson. … Bendus, College Hockey America player of the year, is one
BU celebrates Hockey East title (Contributed/Boston University)
of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented to the nation’s top women’s player. … Bram is third nationally witheight game-winning goals and is tied with Bendus for the lead with five short-handed goals. … F Ashley Cockell (21-21-42) earned CHA tournament MVP honors.
BU – The Terriers face the nation’s No. 1 team in their first NCAA tournament appearance. … They secured the berth by capturing the program’s first Hockey East championship with a 2-1 overtime win against Connecticut Sunday. … D Tara Watchorn (2-14-16, plus-18 rating), who scored that OT goal, headlines the defense. She ranks in the top 20 nationally in scoring by defensemen. … The Terriers have won six straight and are unbeaten in 10 consecutive games – tied for the nation’s longest active streak. … Haber joins Pattenden among the nation’s top 20 in GAA and save pct. … Cardella, a native of Rochester, N.Y., ranks among the top 15 in rookie scoring. … Cherewyk is tied for sixth nationally with Bendus and Lakers F Kelley Steadman (15-13-28) in game-winning goals.
- Victor Fernandes
