PITTSBURGH – The Mercyhurst women’s hockey team will play for the College Hockey America title.

Yet before earning an opportunity to win a 10^th straight conference tournament championship, the sixth-ranked Lakers had to survive a stern test from surprising Syracuse in the CHA Tournament semifinals Friday afternoon.

The top-seeded Lakers held off Syracuse 4-3 in front of 267 fans at Island Sports Center to secure a matchup in Saturday’s 3 p.m. title game against second-seeded Robert Morris. The Colonials (18-9-4) beat third-seeded Niagara 3-2 in the second semifinal.

Fourth-seeded Syracuse (10-22-3) took an early 1-0 lead 6 minutes, 50 seconds into the game on the first of Shiann Darkangelo’s three goals. She nearly matched her four-goal total in 34 regular-season games.

Mercyhurst (23-6-3) tied the score at 1 on Kristine Grenier’s goal at the 10:01 mark of the first period, and then took a 2-1 lead on Christine Bestland’s power-play goal with 1:14 left in the period.

Bestland’s second power-play goal of the game, her 24^th goal of the season, handed the Lakers a 3-1 lead 8:37 into the second. But Darkangelo pulled the Orange within a goal on the power play 4:06 later.

Grenier scored again 3:36 into the third to record her first career two-goal game and regain the Lakers’ two-goal advantage at 4-2, only to have Darkangelo score again on the power play with 5:19 left in the game. Grenier had three goals in 31 regular-season games.

But Mercyhurst held off  the Orange down the stretch to seal the hard-fought win.

Hillary Pattenden made 32 saves for the Lakers to become the first goaltender in NCAA history with 100 wins. She outdueled Syracuse’s Jenesica Drinkwater, who had 38 saves. Mercyhurst senior forward Bailey Bram had an assist to become the fourth player in Lakers’ history to reach 200 career points. She joins Meghan Agosta (NCAA-record 303 points), Jesse Scanzano (225) and Valerie Chouinard (200).

College Hockey America tournament schedule

at Island Sports Center, Pittsburgh

Semifinals – Friday

No. 1 Mercyhurst 4, No. 4 Syracuse 3

No. 2 Robert Morris (17-9-4) vs. No. 3 Niagara (10-15-8), 3:45 p.m.

Championship game – Today

Mercyhurst (23-6-3) vs. Robert Morris/Niagara, 3 p.m.

On the air: www.b2livetv.com (live stream), www.rmucolonials.com (live statistics)

SUMMARY

Mercyhurst 4, Syracuse 3

Syracuse  1  1  1  —  3

Mercyhurst  2  1  1  —  4

1^st Period — 1. Syracuse, Shiann Darkangelo 5 (Mullan, Greco), 6:50 (pp). 2. Mercyhurst, Kristine Grenier 4 (B. Bram, S. Bram), 10:01. 3. Mercyhurst, Christine Bestland 23 (Byrne, J. Jones), 18:46 (pp). Penalties — DeSutter (M) high sticking, 3:53; B. Bram (M) cross checking, 5:15; Roach (S) hooking, 10:01; Grenier (M) tripping, 15:30; Darkangelo (S) hooking, 16:31; Skelly (S) roughing, 18:17.

2^nd Period — 4. Mercyhurst, Bestland 24 (unassisted), 8:37 (pp). 5. Syracuse, Darkangelo 6 (Greco, Mullan), 12:43 (pp). Penalties — Higson (M) hooking, 6:33; Ferrara (S) hooking, 7:38; S. Bram (M) body checking, 10:40; Byrne (M) boarding, 11:22; B. Bram (M) slashing, 13:24; Drinkwater (S) tripping (served by Ferrara), 15:56.

3^rd Period — 6. Mercyhurst, Grenier 5 (Zgoda), 3:36. 7. Syracuse, Darkangelo 7 (Sorensen, Greco), 14:41 (pp). Penalties — Steadman (M) interference, 13:18; Ferrara (S) hooking, 15:26.

Shots on goal — Syracuse, 12-15-8—35; Mercyhurst, 20-11-11—42.

Goaltenders — Syracuse, Jenesica Drinkwater 4-9-1 (42 shots, 38 saves); Mercyhurst, Hillary Pattenden 20-6-3 (35 shots, 32 saves).

Power plays — Syracuse (3-8), Mercyhurst (2-6).

Referees — Scott Bell, Jason Brown. Linesmen — Justin Loomis, Erik Geller.

Attendance — 267.

Vicki Bendus and Jesse Scanzano return to Mercyhurst Ice Center tonight. But unlike the past four years, when they starred for the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team, they will play against the Lakers.

Bendus and Scanzano will headline the Canadian Women’s Hockey League’s Brampton Thunder in a 7 p.m. exhibition game against the No. 8 Lakers. Bendus, the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner as national college player of the year, was drafted fourth overall in the last CWHL draft.

Scanzano, the fifth overall selection by Toronto, will play for Brampton for this game. Bendus and Scanzano completed their college careers a season ago as two of the players in program history.

The Thunder also has former Mercyhurst players Natalie Payne (2005-08) and Ashley Pendleton (2003-07) and past United States Olympian Molly Engstrom on the roster.

Mercyhurst College senior forward Bailey Bram has joined 39 other players at her native Canada’s National Women’s Team September Camp/Fall Festival in Calgary, Alberta. The list includes former Laker stars Meghan Agosta, Vicki Bendus and Jesse Scanzano.

The camp, which runs through Sunday, will provide the coaching staff with its initial evaluation. Then players will be watched at international events throughout the year. Bram had 43 points in 28 games last season. She enters her final college season with 60 goals and 133 points in 98 career games.

The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team begins the 2011-12 season ranked eighth in the opening USCHO.com Division I poll, which was released Monday.

The Lakers lost NCAA career scoring leader Meghan Agosta as well as Vicki Bendus and Jesse Scanzano, two of the program’s top all-time scorers, and four other seniors off a team that finished 29-6 and reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals.

Defending national Wisconsin (37-2-2) earned all 14 first-place votes on its way to the No. 1 spot. Boston University (27-7-4), which lost to the Badgers in the national title game at Tullio Arena in March, stands second. Final Four entrants Cornell (31-3-1) and Boston College (24-7-6) are third and fifth, respectively.

Girard native Jen Schoullis, a redshirt senior forward, and Minnesota are fourth. The rest of the top 10 includes No. 6 Minnesota Duluth (22-9-3), No. 7 North Dakota (20-13-3) and No. 9 Quinnipiac (22-12-3). Dartmouth (22-12-0) and Providence (22-12-1) are tied at No. 10.

Division I Women’s Hockey USCHO.com Poll

Others Receiving Votes: Northeastern 11, Harvard 8, Ohio State 1.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario – Former Mercyhurst College women’s hockey players Meghan Agosta, Vicki Bendus and Jesse Scanzano were all drafted in the top five of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) draft held recently in Mississauga, Ontario.

Agosta was drafted first overall by Montreal and was followed closely by Bendus, who went fourth overall to Brampton, and Scanzano, who was drafted fifth overall by Toronto. Also drafted from Mercyhurst in the CWHL draft were defensemen Melissa Lacroix (17^th overall by Toronto) and Cassea Schols (60^th overall by Alberta).

The five aforementioned players join three other former Lakers currently playing in the CWHL: goaltender Laura Hosier (Brampton), defenseman Ashley Pendleton (Brampton), and forward Samatha Shirley (Burlington).

- From Mercyhurst news release

Jesse Scanzano (Contributed/Mercyhurst College)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team will play for College Hockey America championship. That’s no surprise. The Lakers captured the previous eight titles.

But the top-seeded and fourth-ranked Lakers had to battle fifth-seeded Robert Morris and goaltender Meeri Raisanen in a 3-1 semifinal win today at Tennity Ice Pavilion.

Mercyhurst (28-5-0), which faces third-seeded in Saturday’s 5 p.m. final, fired 44 shots at Raisanen. She stopped 41 of them. Second-seeded Niagara and No. 3 Syracuse play tonight at 7.

The Lakers scored twice in the opening period on goals from Kelley Steadman and Jesse Scanzano, with Scanzano’s short-handed score extending the lead to 2-0 with 56 seconds left in the period.

But the Colonials (6-21-7) sliced Mercyhurst’s lead in half on Cobina Delaney’s goal 6:20 into the second period. Scanzano provided a key insurance goal during a 5-on-3 with 33 seconds left in the period.

Then the Lakers’ defense took control in the third, as junior goaltender Hillary Pattenden finished with 24 saves and the penalty kill stymied the Colonials on all five power-play chances. Meghan Agosta, the nation’s leading scorer with 81 points, had two assists for the Lakers.

Syracuse (14-15-6) edged second-seeded Niagara 1-0 in the other semifinal.

College Hockey America Tournament

at Tennity Ice Pavilion – Syracuse, N.Y.

First round – Thursday

No. 5 Robert Morris 4, No. 4 Wayne State 2

Semifinals – Friday

No. 1 Mercyhurst 3, No. 5 Robert Morris 1

No. 3 Syracuse 1, No. 2 Niagara 0

Championship game – Saturday

No. 1 Mercyhurst (28-5-0) vs. No. 3 Syracuse (14-15-6), 5 p.m.

SUMMARY

Mercyhurst 3, Robert Morris 1

Robert Morris  0  1  0  —  1

Mercyhurst  2  1  0  —  3

1^st Period — 1. Mercyhurst, Kelley Steadman 17 (Agosta), 13:09. 2. Mercyhurst, Jesse Scanzano 24 (Agosta), 19:04 (sh). Penalties — Pollock (R) body checking, 8:53; Schols (M) checking, 11:01; Cicero (M) hooking, 13:53; Schols (M) tripping, 17:39.

2^nd Period — 3. RMU, Cobina Delaney 8 (B. Delaney), 6:20. 4. Mercyhurst, Scanzano 25 (Bendus), 19:27 (pp). Penalties — Bram (M) tripping, 10:27; C. Delaney (R) tripping, 18:56; St. Louis (R) tripping, 18:56.

3^rd Period — None. Penalties — Kindret (R) hooking, 6:30; Schols (M) body checking, 15:13.

Shots on goal — RMU, 5-13-7—25; Mercyhurst, 14-17-13—44.

Goaltenders — RMU, Hillary Pattenden 26-5-0 (25 shots, 24 saves); RMU, Meeri Raisanen 3-8-4 (44 shots, 41 saves).

Power plays — RMU (0-5), Mercyhurst (1-3).

Referees — Leah Wruhzidlow, Kyle Allen. Linesmen — Will McStravick, Aaron Belair.

Attendance — 103.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior captain Meghan Agosta highlighted a list of nine members of the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team that were honored Thursday evening as award winners at the 2011 College Hockey America Postseason Banquet, held at the Genesee Grande Hotel in Syracuse, N.Y.

Agosta was named CHA Player of the Year as well as a First Team All-CHA selection, marking the fourth time in her career she captured both accolades. She also took home the regular season scoring trophy for leading the league in points.

Head coach Michael Sisti was tabbed coach of the year, senior Cassea Schols was selected as the league’s top defenseman and junior Hillary Pattenden earned the regular season goaltending trophy, rounding out the Lakers’ major award winners.

Overall, eight Lakers landed spots on the all-league teams. Agosta, senior assistant captain Vicki Bendus, Schols and junior Pamela Zgoda were named first-team picks, while senior assistant captain Jesse Scanzano, junior Bailey Bram and Pattenden all found spots on the second team. Freshman Christine Bestland was named as the team’s lone representative on the all-rookie squad.

Under the direction of Sisti, the only coach in program history, the Lakers recorded their second undefeated conference season in the past three years. Mercyhurst went 16-0-0 against CHA competition, averaging 5.25 goals per game while allowing just over a goal per game (1.38).

In conference play, Agosta led the CHA in every offensive category. She scored 18 goals and added 23 assists for 41 points. 17 of her points came on the power play, while four others came on the penalty kill, including three short-handed goals.

Bendus, the 2010 CHA Player of the Year, ranked third in scoring in conference play. Through 14 games, missing two due to participating at the 2011 MLP Cup, she scored seven goals and added 17 assists for 24 points. Her 17 helpers placed her second in assists per game (1.21), and her 10 power-play points put her only behind Agosta for the conference lead.

Schols led all CHA blueliners with two goals and 15 points, averaging nearly a point per game (0.94). Of her 15 points, 10 of them came on the power play, putting her in a tie for second with fellow Lakers Bendus and Scanzano.

Zgoda ranked fourth in the conference in defenseman scoring, netting three goals and dishing out seven assists for 10 points. Setting a new career-high in overall points with 22 this season, she was one of four defensemen to rank in top-20 in CHA scoring, placing 18th overall.

Scanzano landed a spot on the second team after ranking second in the league in points (25) and third in both goals (11) and assists (14).

Bram, playing in only 11 conference games, placed 10th in scoring with three goals and 13 points.

Pattenden played in 15 of 16 league games, recording a perfect 15-0-0 record. During that stretch, she accumulated a league-leading 1.40 goals against average and a second-ranked .924 save percentage. In 42 career conference games, Pattenden holds a 40-1-1 record.

Bestland led the conference in rookie scoring, netting 12 goals and 23 points. She also placed fourth in overall points, second in goals and fifth in assists.

- From Mercyhurst news release

College Hockey America Tournament

at Tennity Ice Pavilion – Syracuse, N.Y.

First round – Thursday

No. 5 Robert Morris 4, No. 4 Wayne State 2

Semifinals – Friday

No. 1 Mercyhurst (27-5-0) vs. No. 5 Robert Morris (6-20-7), 4 p.m.

No. 2 Niagara (11-16-5) vs. No. 3 Syracuse (13-15-6), 7 p.m.

Championship game – Saturday

Semifinal winners, 5 p.m.

**********************************

What: College Hockey America Tournament

When: Friday – semifinals, 4 and 7 p.m.; Saturday – championship game, 5 p.m.

Where: Tennity Ice Pavilion – Syracuse, N.Y.

On the air: www.suathletics.com (live statistics)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. F Meghan Agosta (33 goals, 46 assists, 79 points), Jr. G Hillary Pattenden (25-5-0 record, 1.97 goals-against average, .908 save percentage, 6 shutouts), Sr. F Jesse Scanzano (23-29-52), Sr. F Vicki Bendus (18-32-50), Jr. F Bailey Bram (14-27-41)

Niagara – Sr. G Jenni Bauer (11-13-3, 2.36, .919), Fr. F Jessica Hitchcock (6-10-16), So. F Jenna Hendrikx (11-3-14), Fr. F Kristen Richards (7-7-14), Fr. F Kaleigh Chippy (6-3-9)

Syracuse – So. F Isabel Menard (17-24-41), Sr. F Julie Rising (10-16-26), Sr. D Ashley Cockell (11-14-25), Jr. F Megan Skelly (7-10-17), Fr. G Kallie Billadeau (6-10-3, 2.87, .906)

Robert Morris – Sr. F Sara O’Malley (14-16-30), Fr. F Thea Imbrogno (12-16-28), Jr. F Brianna Delaney (11-17-28), So. F Dayna Newsom (5-16-21), So. F Kelsey Thomas (4-10-14)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – The top-seeded Lakers have won all eight tournament titles in CHA history. … The Lakers finished with a 16-0 conference mark in the regular season. They enter today’s 4 p.m. semifinal game against Robert Morris with 25 straight conference wins (regular season and playoffs). Their last loss was on Jan. 30, 2010 (2-1 at home against Niagara). … Agosta enters the postseason as the national leader in assists and points and tied for third in goals. … Scanzano, Bendus and Bram rank among the nation’s leaders in several categories.

Niagara – The Purple Eagles meet Syracuse in the semifinals a week after being swept at Syracuse 2-1 (OT) and 4-2. … Bauer was on the original list of Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award nominees. … The Purple Eagles have scored only 1.53 goals per game this season.

Syracuse – The Orange lost to Mercyhurst 3-1 in the 2010 title game. … Menard was on the Kazmaier Award’s nominee list. … Former Laker Cockell ranks among the nation’s highest-scoring defensemen.

Robert Morris – The Colonials beat Wayne State 4-2 in Thursday’s first-round game for their second career tournament win. Both wins were against WSU… They entered the tournament with one win in their previous 12 games (1-7-4).

– Victor Fernandes

What: Robert Morris (5-19-7, 2-8-5 CHA) at No. 3 Mercyhurst College (26-5-0, 15-0-0)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center

On the air: www.americaone.com (Internet video), WMCE (radio)

Players to watch

Mercyhurst – Sr. F Meghan Agosta (31 goals, 46 assists, 77 points), Jr. G Hillary Pattenden (24-5-0 record, 1.97 goals-against average, .908 save percentage, 6 shutouts), Sr. F Jesse Scanzano (22-28-50), Sr. F Vicki Bendus (18-31-49), Jr. F Bailey Bram (13-26-39)

Robert Morris – Fr. F Thea Imbrogno (12-14-26), Sr. F Sara O’Malley (12-14-26), Jr. F Brianna Delaney (10-16-26), So. F Dayna Newsom (5-16-21), So. F Kelsey Thomas (4-10-14)

Fast facts

Mercyhurst – Agosta, the nation’s leading scorer and fourth-leading goal scorer, needs one goal to surpass the NCAA career record of 150 goals she shares with Harvard’s Nicole Corriero (2002-05). Agosta already holds the NCAA career marks for points and power-play goals. … The Lakers, which have won a season-high eight straight games, have clinched the No. 1 seed in next weekend’s College Hockey America tournament. They earn a first-round bye and will face either Wayne State or RMU in the semifinals on March 4 at 4 p.m. … The school will honor the 2011 graduating class – seniors Agosta, Bendus, Scanzano, Ashley Harper, Melissa Lacroix, Kylie Rossler and Cassea Schols and junior Meghan Corbett – before the final game of the regular season. … The Lakers have won all 26 career meetings with the Colonials, including three games this season. … Pattenden has allowed two goals or fewer in seven straight games. … The Lakers have seven players with double-digit goals, the most since the 2008-09 team that reached the NCAA Division I championship game. … Freshman F Christine Bestland (18-23-41) ranks fourth nationally in rookie scoring.

Robert Morris – The Colonials are unbeaten in a program-record five straight games (1-0-4) after losing their previous six games. … Delaney is the first player in program history to record double-digit goals for three straight seasons. … Imbrogno has points in a program-best eight straight games. … The Colonials have scored two goals or fewer in 23-of-31 games.

Up next: CHA Tournament at Syracuse (March 3-5)

– Victor Fernandes