Feb. 5, 2008

Erie, Pa. -

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Mercyhurst will have its hands full this weekend when conference-rival Wayne State (16-6-2, 4-0-0) visits Friday and Saturday for games at 4:30 and 3:00.

The series will feature the top four players nationally in points-per-game. Wayne State juniors Melissa Boal (2.45), Sam Poyton (2.25), and Lindsay DiPietro (2.25) lead the pack while Mercyhurst (19-5-2, 4-0-0) sophomore Meghan Agosta (2.23) is fourth. Both teams average 4.08 goals-per-game. The Lakers allow 1.92 while the Warriors surrender 2.96.

The Lakers have won five straight, but have been resting since sweeping Quinnipiac January 25 and 26. The Warriors have won eight straight, a school record, and are unbeaten in their last nine (8-0-1), also a team record. Wayne State is wrapping up a six-game conference road trip. They swept both games at Robert Morris (6-1, 6-4) two weekends ago and won twice at Niagara (4-0, 4-3) last weekend.

Fast Facts

• Meghan Agosta has a 20-game scoring streak, a new team mark. The last time she was kept off the board was at Minnesota Duluth in a 1-1 overtime tie on October 20. Agosta has 39 multiple-point games and 21 multiple-goal games in her career. She is first nationally in goals (36) and shorthanded goals (7). The seven "shorties" are also a Mercyhurst one-season record. She is tied for first in goals-per-game (1.38) and power play goals (9), second in points-per-game (2.23), and tied for second in game-winning goals with 8.

• Junior Valerie Chouinard had a 6-point weekend against Quinnipiac, including her first-ever four-assist game on January 26. She now has a 6-game scoring streak.

• Junior Natalie Payne had her first career four-point game (all assists) on January 25.

• Mercyhurst has ten shorthanded goals this season (Agosta 7). The one-season mark of 11 was set in 2004-2005. The Lakers had nine shorthanded goals last year.

• Mercyhurst has scored multiple power play goals in nine games this season. 26 of the team's 36 have come in those contests.

• After a combined 1 of 19 in power play opportunities against Yale and Brown January 18 and 19, the Lakers went a combined 7 for 19 two weeks ago against Quinnipiac.

• Mercyhurst had 60 power play goals in 37 games last season; the Lakers have 36 in 26 games in 2007-08.

• 17 of the 25 power play goals Mercyhurst has allowed this season have come in six games.

• Senior goalie Laura Hosier has 67 career wins and 20 shutouts. She took over the career lead in wins at Providence and is second to Desi Clark's team record 24 shutouts.

• Mercyhurst finished last season +42 in special teams' play. The Lakers are +19 so far this season.

• Junior forward Valerie Chouinard has seven power play goals this season and 32 in her career. She took over first place all-time this season from Stefanie Bourbeau, who finished her career last March with 25.

• Mercyhurst has trailed only three times this season after the first period (1-2-0).

• Both the Lakers and Warriors are 4-0 in College Hockey America. Mercyhurst has outscored its four opponents 20-2 while WSU has outdistanced them 20-8.

• WSU senior Ashley King is one of a record eight finalists from 22 NCAA college hockey players nominated for the 2008 Hockey Humanitarian Award. Presented by BNY Mellon Wealth Management, the award is presented to college hockey's finest citizen.