What: No. 3 Mercyhurst College (12-2-0) at St. Lawrence (8-7-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.
Where: Appleton Arena – Canton, N.Y.
On the air: www.americaone.com (Internet video)
Players to watch
Mercyhurst – Jr. G Hillary Pattenden (11-2-0 record, 2.05 goals-against average, .904 save percentage, 1 shutout), Sr. F Meghan Agosta (15 goals, 16 assists, 31 points), Sr. F Vicki Bendus (10-19-29), Jr. F Bailey Bram (8-12-20), Sr. F Jesse Scanzano (5-15-20)
St. Lawrence – Fr. F Rylee Smith (6-8-14), So. F Kelly Sabatine (6-5-11), So. F Kayla Sullivan (6-5-11), Fr. D Bailey Habscheid (5-6-11), So. D Brooke Fernandez (3-8-11)
Fast facts
Mercyhurst – The Lakers complete the first half of the season looking to extend a five-game winning streak. … The Lakers have won five straight to close the Saints’ all-time series lead to 12-7-2, including 4-2 and 6-2 road wins last season. Mercyhurst ended the Saints’ 2008-09 season in the NCAA Tournament. … Bendus had six points in last weekend’s home sweep of Niagara, including four while playing defense on Saturday. … F Kelley Steadman (11-6-17) has points in a career-high, six straight games. … Bendus leads NCAA Division I in assists per game (1.46). … Agosta leads the nation in points per game (2.38) and trails only Minnesota Duluth junior F Haley Irwin (32) and Boston College senior F Kelli Stack (32) in total points. … The Lakers lead the nation in scoring (5.43 per game). … Pattenden moved into second on the program’s all-time wins list (64) with Saturday’s victory against Niagara. She stands 10 wins shy of equaling 2008 graduate Laura Hosier’s mark of 74. … Michael Sisti (294-80-26) needs six wins to become the sixth women’s coach to reach that mark.
St. Lawrence – The Saints have won three of their last four games. Their only loss in that stretch was at No. 1 Cornell 3-1 last Friday. … They are 1-2-1 against ranked opponents (a 2-1 loss at then-No. 5 Boston University on Oct. 22, a 7-3 win and 1-1 tie against then-No. 6 Boston College on Nov. 12-13 and the loss to Cornell). … They have 12 freshmen and sophomores on a 20-player roster. … The Saints have split time in net between graduate student Maxie Weisz (4-5-1, 2.14, .921, 1 SO) and freshman Caitlyn Lahonen (4-2-1, 2.29, .909, 1 SO).
Up next: Easton Holiday Showcase – at St. Cloud State (Jan. 1, 3 p.m.), vs. Wisconsin (Jan. 2, noon)
- Victor Fernandes
