The Mercyhurst University women’s hockey team will face Cornell Saturday at 1 p.m. in their NCAA Division I quarterfinal game at Lynah Rink in Ithaca, N.Y. All four games in the opening round will be played Saturday. Harvard (24-6-3) and fourth-seeded Boston College (26-6-3) will join the Lakers (28-6-1) and second-seeded Big Red (27-5-1) in playing at 1 p.m. Clarkson (28-9-0) travels to No. 3 Boston University for a 3 p.m. game, while top-seeded and defending champion Minnesota (38-0-0) hosts North Dakota (26-11-1) at 5 p.m.
In other news, the Lakers swept College Hockey America’s weekly honors. Junior forward Christine Bestland was named player of the week for totaling two goals and three points in wins against Robert Morris and Syracuse that clinched the program’s 10th conference title in the past 11 years. Senior Stephanie Ciampa earned top goaltender honors for stopping 45-of-47 shots in the two games. Jenna Dingeldein had a goal and three points to earn top rookie honors.

NCAA Women’s Division I Tournament schedule
Quarterfinals – Saturday
Harvard (24-6-3) at No. 4 Boston College (26-6-3), 1 p.m.
Mercyhurst (28-6-1) at No. 2 Cornell (27-5-1), 1 p.m.
Clarkson (28-9-0) at No. 3 Boston University (26-5-3), 3 p.m.
North Dakota (26-11-1) at No. 1 Minnesota (38-0-0), 5 p.m.
Semifinals*
March 22 at Ridder Arena – Minneapolis, Minn.
UND-Minnesota winner vs. Harvard-BC winner, 6 or 9 p.m.
Mercyhurst-Cornell winner vs. Clarkson-BU winner, 6 or 9 p.m.
Championship game*
March 24 at Ridder Arena – Minneapolis, Minn.
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
* Streamed live on NCAA.com

NCAA Women’s Division I Tournament schedule
Quarterfinals – Friday or Saturday
North Dakota (26-11-1) at No. 1 Minnesota (38-0-0), Saturday at 5 p.m.
Harvard (24-6-3) at No. 4 Boston College (26-6-3), Saturday at 1 p.m.
Mercyhurst (28-6-1) at No. 2 Cornell (27-5-1), TBD
Clarkson (28-9-0) at No. 3 Boston University (26-5-3), Saturday at 3 p.m.
Semifinals*
March 22 at Ridder Arena – Minneapolis, Minn.
UND-Minnesota winner vs. Harvard-BC winner, 6 or 9 p.m.
Mercyhurst-Cornell winner vs. Clarkson-BU winner, 6 or 9 p.m.
Championship game*
March 24 at Ridder Arena – Minneapolis, Minn.
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
* Streamed live on NCAA.com

Millcreek Township native Bryan Sienerth has chosen to attend the USHL Combine over the Erie Otters’ orientation camp this weekend, his father, Rick, confirmed Friday.
“We felt that he needed the exposure to keep all of his hockey options open,” Rick Sienerth said in a text message, referring to USHL Futures Draft, the draft for 1996-born players, which will be held Tuesday. “He is only 16, so NCAA eligibility is still very important. And since the USHL is the Tier I league (in the United States), that keeps (eligibility) intact. We opted to keep that door open.”
Sienerth, a Cathedral Prep sophomore who played for the Pittsburgh Hornets’ U16 team this past season, has received interest from Division I programs at Harvard, Merrimack and Notre Dame.
He could be selected in the draft, Rick Sienerth said. He has been contacted by several USHL clubs. The Otters chose him in the 13th round of the OHL Priority Selection April 7.
He plans to attend the Otters’ main camp in August, Rick Sienerth said.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team earned 172 points and seven first-place votes to take the top spot in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine Women’s College Hockey Poll released Tuesday. The Lakers are now ranked No. 1 in both national polls after moving up in the USCHO.com poll on Monday.
Cornell remained at No. 2 with 155 points and six first-place votes, while Minnesota moved up to the No. 3 spot with 144 points and two first-place votes. Wisconsin climbed to No. 4 with 141 points and two first-place votes after twice defeating Bemidji State. Minnesota Duluth rounded out the top five with 138 points and two first-place votes following a weekend split with No. 7 North Dakota.
Boston University was tabbed sixth with 81 points, while Boston College (58), Harvard (40) and Ohio State (18) occupied spots 8 –10.
Mercyhurst continues non-conference play this weekend with a two-game series at Bemidji State, beginning on Friday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m.

- From Mercyhurst College news release

MINNEAPOLIS – The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team climbed two spots to take over the No. 1 ranking in this week’s USCHO.com Women’s Division I Poll. The Lakers claimed 129 points and three first-place votes after disposing of non-conference foe Maine, 5-2 and 6-1, last weekend on the road to move to 4-0-0 on the season.
It marks the first time this season the Lakers are ranked No. 1 after occupying the top spot for most of last season.
Cornell remained second with 120 points and seven first-place votes, followed by Minnesota and Wisconsin in a tie for third with 117 points apiece. Both teams captured first-place votes with the Gophers taking three and the Badgers with one.
Previous No. 1 Minnesota Duluth dropped four spots to fifth with 111 points and the final first-place nod.
Boston University (66), Boston College (52), North Dakota (45), Harvard (36) and Ohio State (12) and Providence (12) in a tie rounded out spots 6 – 10.
Mercyhurst continues non-conference play this weekend with a two-game series at Bemidji State, beginning on Friday, Oct. 15 at 2:07 p.m.

- From Mercyhurst news release

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team has been ranked third in the first edition of the USCHO.com Division I Women’s Poll, released Monday by USCHO.com officials.

The Lakers earned 115 points after finishing the 2009-10 season with a 30-3-3 record.

Defending national champion Minnesota Duluth was ranked first with 148 points and 14 of the possible 15 first-place votes, followed by Cornell in second with 121 points. Minnesota and Wisconsin occupied the fourth and fifth spots with 98 and 87 points, respectively, with the Golden Gophers claiming the final first-place vote. Boston University (86), Clarkson (51), Harvard (35), Boston College (32) and New Hampshire (18) and Providence (18) in a tie rounded out rankings 6 – 10.

The USCHO.com Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 15 voters, including 14 coaches of Division I programs and three women’s hockey writers. Mercyhurst opens its 2010-11 campaign on Friday against St. Cloud State at 7 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

- From Mercyhurst news release

MINNEAPOLIS - Julie Chu has experienced many memorable moments as a member of the United States women’s hockey teams in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympics. But on Saturday, she recalled a memorable against Mercyhurst College from her days at Harvard.

The date was March 19, 2005. The Lakers and Crimson met int the NCAA Women’s Division I quarterfinals in Cambridge, Mass. The game lasted 12 minutes into the third overtime, when Chu, then a junior forward, scored to seal Harvard’s 5-4 win. Then-Mercyhurst goaltender Desi Clark made 78 saves in that game – a NCAA tournament record that still stands.

“It was an unbelievable game,” Chu said following the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ceremony at McNamara Alumni Center on Saturday. “I just remember it being back and forth. There were tons of opportunities on either side. It was one of those games (that) at the end of it … we can walk away saying that was an incredible game that could have gone either way.”

Chu is impressed with the growth of Mercyhurst’s program since that game.

“Since then, Mercyhurst has just exploded and become a powerhouse for women’s hockey. It’s fun to see that growth of Erie.”

Chu was joined by fellow 2010 Olympians Caitlin Cahow, the ceremony’s keynote speaker, Jenny Potter and Angela Ruggiero and their silver medals from the Vancouver Olympics last month. Mark Johnson, who coached the U.S. team and won gold with the 1980 U.S. men’s team, also attended the event.

* Bittersweet ending: Mercyhurst senior defenseman Johanna Malmstrom‘s career ended with Friday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to Cornell in the NCAA Women’s Division I Frozen Four semifinals

“It’s been a tough two days, still a lot of crying,” said Malmstrom, the Lakers’ lone senior. “But it’s part of it. It’s just how it is.”

Now she has to focus on the future. “I haven’t even thought of it yet,” she said, “most likely go back to Sweden and play hockey there.”

* News and notes: Marney Gellner, a pregame/postgame host and sideline reporter with FOX Sports North for Minnesota Twins (MLB), Minnesota Wild (NHL) and University of Minnesota men’s hockey broadcasts, served as master of ceremonies, even though she was 10 days away from giving birth to her second child. … The state of Minnesota has 126 girls’ high school hockey programs.

- Victor Fernandes