Mercyhurst College senior forward Kelley Steadman earned College Hockey America player of the week after totaling five goals in two games this past weekend. She scored all four goals in a 4-2 win at Robert Morris on Friday. She added a goal in a 3-2 home loss to the Colonials on Saturday to become NCAA Division I’s leader with 26 goals.
Lakers drop to 7th in USCHO poll
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team’s first College Hockey America loss in two years cost the Lakers two spots in the latest USCHO.com Division I poll. The Lakers (18-5-1) dropped to No. 7 from fifth after splitting a two-game weekend series with Robert Morris.
A night after winning at RMU 4-2 on Friday, Mercyhurst fell to the Colonials 3-2 on Saturday for its first CHA loss since a 2-1 defeat to Niagara on Jan. 30, 2010. North Dakota (15-8-2) and Northeastern (17-5-2) jumped into the fifth and sixth spots, respectively, ahead of the Lakers.
Wisconsin (22-2-2) remains No. 1 with 13 first-place votes. Cornell (18-2-0) moved to No. 2 ahead of Minnesota (20-4-2), which features Girard native and redshirt senior forward Jen Schoullis.
Meanwhile, the Mercyhurst men’s hockey team’s two-week stay in the USCHO.com poll ended Monday, despite a 1-0-1 weekend at Holy Cross. Rochester Institute of Technology (14-8-2) earned seven votes in the poll. The Tigers face Mercyhurst (14-9-3) in a two-game series next weekend in a battle for first place in the Atlantic Hockey Association.
O’Donoghue earns AHA honor
Mercyhurst College sophomore forward Daniel O’Donoghue was named co-Atlantic Hockey Association player of the week Monday. He shared the honor with Robert Morris senior forward Cody Crichton. O’Donoghue had two goals and two assists in two games against Holy Cross, including the winning goal in overtime of a 3-2 victory on Friday. He has five goals and 14 points this season.
Mercyhurst College will hold its inaugural “Take a Girl to a Game” day on Feb. 4. The event is in celebration of National Girls and Women’s Sports Day on Feb. 1.
Girls in grades K-12 will receive free admission to the 2 pm women’s ice hockey game against Niagara and are invited to attend a pre-game reception at the Mercyhurst Ice Center from 6-7 p.m.
Over 100 girls are expected to attend the event. There will be a drawing for the ceremonial puck drop, in-game promotions, opportunities to try on Laker uniforms and equipment and a meet-and-greet with members of the Laker women’s teams.
Mercyhurst’s “Take a Girl to a Game” is one of more than 1,000 events taking place across the country for National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Congress has proclaimed this national day each year since 1987. It recognizes the progress of girls and women in sports and the benefits that sports and fitness activities can bring to the lives of all girls and women.
The Day is organized nationally by the Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, the National Women’s Law Center and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
If interested in attending, visit www.hurstathletics.com and click on the “Special Events” tab to sign up your daughter, Girl Scout troop, or team on the form provided. Tickets for the event are free for girls K-12. Admission for adults is $5 and $3 for senior citizens. For more information on this event please call (814) 824-3101.
- From Mercyhurst, AmeriCorps VISTA news release
The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team has moved into the USCHO.com Division I poll.
The Lakers, which moved atop the Atlantic Hockey Association with a two-game sweep of Sacred Heart this past weekend, received a vote in Monday’s poll.
The Lakers (12-8-2, 9-2-2 AHA) are tied for 28th with conference rival Air Force and St. Cloud State of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Mercyhurst last appeared in the national poll on Oct. 10, 2010, after a season-opening tie at nationally ranked Michigan. The Lakers are in the poll this late in a season for the first time since receiving three votes on Jan. 23, 2006. They have won four straight and six of their last eight (6-1-1).
The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team remains fifth in the latest USCHO.com Division I poll released Monday. The Lakers (15-4-1), which opened College Hockey America play with a win and tie at Syracuse this past weekend, earned 87 voting points. They trail No. 4 Boston College by seven points.
Minnesota, which features one of the nation’s leading scorers in Girard native Jen Schoullis (15 goals, 39 points in 21 games), moved into the No. 1 spot with 10 first-place votes and 145 points. The Golden Gophers (18-3-1) went 1-0-1 against then-No. 1 Wisconsin this past weekend. The Badgers (19-2-1) slipped to No. 2 with three first-place votes and 134 points. Cornell (12-2-0) is still No. 3.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team, fresh off a weekend sweep of Sacred Heart to move into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings, received a vote according to the latest USCHO.com Division I men’s hockey poll, released on Monday afternoon.
Mercyhurst received one vote in the poll, putting them in a tie for 28th in the national rankings with conference-rival Air Force and WCHA member St. Cloud State.
The last time Mercyhurst received votes in the national poll was October 11, 2010, after the Lakers beat Michigan in a shootout in last season’s regular-season opener. The last time the Lakers received votes this late in a season was on January 23, 2006, when they received three votes in the poll.
The Lakers (12-8-2 overall, 9-2-2 AHA) have won four consecutive games and have gone 6-1-1 since losing a pair of games at Wisconsin on November 25 and 26.
- From Mercyhurst news release
Sacred Heart (1-16-1, 0-10-1 AHA) at Mercyhurst College (10-8-2, 7-2-2)
When: Friday and Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Mercyhurst Ice Center
On the air: www.b2livetv.com (live stream), WMCE-FM/88.5 & 104.9 (radio), www.hurstathletics.com (live statistics)
Up next: at American International (Jan. 13-14, 7:05 p.m.)
Fast facts: The Lakers (16 points) are tied for second with Robert Morris and Rochester Institute of Technology in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings, one point behind Air Force. … They snapped a six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) in conference play with a 4-3 loss to Niagara Dec. 10 at Mercyhurst Ice Center. … The Lakers face a one-win team for the second straight weekend. They swept a two-game non-conference series at Alabama-Huntsville 5-1 and 4-3 last weekend. … Freshmen lead the Lakers in points (Nardo Nagtzaam 13) and assists (Daniel Bahntge and Tyler Shiplo 9 apiece). Freshman Chris Bodo’s 6 goals ranks second to senior Derek Elliott (7) in goals. … Sophomore F Kyle Just has a goal and two points in his first two games of the season. Just and sophomore G Jordan Tibbett, who didn’t dress for either game last weekend, were acquitted of sexual assault and other charges in November. … Redshirt junior G Max Strang has a 7-2-2 record, 2.06 goals-against average and .947 save percentage in 11 AHA games. … The Pioneers posted their lone win, 7-6, against then-No. 8 Yale Nov. 22. They recorded their lone point in the AHA standings with a 4-4 tie against Niagara Nov. 27.
- Victor Fernandes
No. 5 Mercyhurst College (12-4-0, 0-0-0 CHA) at Syracuse (8-12-1, 0-1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Tennity Ice Pavilion – Syracuse, N.Y.
On the air: www.b2livetv.com (live stream), www.suathletics.com (live statistics)
Up next: vs. Niagara (Jan. 13, 7 p.m.), at Niagara (Jan. 14, 2 p.m.)
Fast facts: Mercyhurst plays for the first time since sweeping a doubleheader from Lindenwood Dec. 14-16 at Mercyhurst Ice Center. … The Lakers will be without the Bram sisters, Bailey (21 goals, 48 points) and Shelby (6 goals, 17 points), who are playing for the Canadian National Women’s Under-22/Development Team at the Meco Cup (formerly MLP Cup) in Germany. They have combined for one point in the first two games for Canada (2-0). … Senior G Hillary Pattenden can add to her NCAA Division I record total of 92 career wins. She is tied for fifth nationally with a .750 winning percentage (12-4-0), tied for sixth in save percentage (.939) and seventh in goals-against average (1.72). … Sophomore F Christine Bestland (15 goals, 39 points) ranks sixth nationally in scoring. … Syracuse is winless in three straight and in seven of 11 games since a season-high, three-game winning streak. … The Orange opened CHA play with a 2-1 loss and 1-1 tie against Robert Morris Dec. 9-10. … They have scored 48 goals in 21 games (2.28 per game).
- Victor Fernandes
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Freshman goaltender Jimmy Sarjeant stopped 23-of-26 shots in his college debut to lead the Mercyhurst College men’s hockey team to a 4-3 win against Alabama-Huntsville in front of 1,062 at Propst Arena on Saturday.
The Lakers swept a two-game series from UHA for the second straight year.
Sarjeant allowed two goals on six shots in the opening period. But his teammates responded with goals from senior Derek Elliott and freshmen Chris Bodo and Daniel Bahntge to take a 3-2 lead.
Sarjeant settled down after that, allowing only one goal on his final 20 shots. UAH (1-21-1) tied the score at 3 on Graeme Strukoff’s goal 8 minutes, 34 seconds into the second period. But freshman Ryan Misiak scored 3:43 into the third to hand the Lakers (10-8-2) a 4-3 lead. The Lakers were outshot 26-22.
Bodo led the Lakers with a goal and two assists. Misiak had a goal and assist. Mercyhurst returns to Atlantic Hockey Association play on Friday and Saturday with a pair of 7:05 p.m. games against Sacred Heart at Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Mercyhurst College (8-8-2) at Alabama-Huntsville (1-19-1)
When: Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m.
Where: Propst Arena – Huntsville, Ala.
On the air: www.b2livetv.com (live stream), www.uahchargers.com (statistics)
Up next: vs. Sacred Heart (Jan. 6-7, 7:05 p.m.)
Fast facts: Mercyhurst begins the second half following a three-week layoff. … They traveled 700 miles to face the independent Chargers, the south’s only NCAA Division I program. … F Kyle Just and G Jordan Tibbett, who were acquitted of sexual assault and other charges last month, could make their season debuts tonight. They re-enrolled in school Nov. 28 and began practicing Dec. 7, and then recently received waivers from the NCAA to play. Coach Rick Gotkin said he expected to decide their playing status late Thursday after watching them skate in Thursday’s practice. … The Lakers swept a two-game series against the Chargers, 8-3 and 4-3, at Mercyhurst Ice Center last season. … The Lakers are 1-6 in non-conference games, with their only win at Cornell Oct. 29. … They have been outscored 34-15 in those games. In contrast, they are 7-2-2 with a 30-23 goal advantage in Atlantic Hockey Association play. … Freshmen lead the Lakers in points (Nardo Nagtzaam 13) and assists (Daniel Bahntge and Tyler Shiplo 9 apiece). Chris Bodo’s 6 goals ranks second to senior Derek Elliott (7) in goals. … Sophomore F John Mousso faces season-ending knee surgery. Sophomore F Trent Frey remains hampered by a lower-body injury. … UAH faces the possible end to its D-I program after the season. However, published reports earlier this month indicated that university officials are attempting to save the program. … The Chargers have faced seven teams currently ranked in or just outside the top 20 in the USCHO.com poll (Bowling Green, Lake Superior State, Merrimack, Ohio State, Massachusetts-Lowell, Nebraska-Omaha and Western Michigan). They are 1-11, with the lone win against UNO (3-1 on Dec. 2).
- Victor Fernandes
Check out the latest update on Kristen Cameron, the former assistant coach with the Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team.
