Feb. 12, 2008

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Mercyhurst now has a College Hockey America partner in both national polls. Yesterday, USCHO.com listed the Lakers (19-6-3) No. 7 and Wayne State (17-6-3) No. 10. Today, the latest USA Today/USA Hockey poll agreed. Mercyhurst dropped a spot after an 0-1-1 weekend against the Warriors who made the Top 10 in both polls for the first time in history. The two teams will collide later this month in Detroit.

Mercyhurst had a 5-game winning streak severed last Friday when the Warriors won 5-4 in overtime at the Ice Center. The two teams then battled to a 2-2 overtime tie the next day.

Mercyhurst, 4-1-1 and in second place in College Hockey America, will tangle with conference-rival Niagara (7-17-4, 1-5-0) this Friday at 7 and Saturday at 2 on home ice. The Lakers won twice at Niagara in early December by scores of 6-1 and 5-0.

Harvard (22-1-0) secured 18 of 19 first-place votes to remain solidly at the top with 189 points, 21 more than second-place New Hampshire which picked up the remaining first-place ballot.

ABOUT THE POLL: The 11th annual USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll is conducted each week in conjunction with the American Hockey Coaches Association. The poll includes input from coaches and journalists representing each of the six NCAA Division I ice hockey conferences, as well as composite votes from officers of the American Hockey Coaches Association and USA Hockey Magazine, the most widely distributed hockey magazine in the world.

Team (First Place)	         Record	Pts	Last Week
1. Harvard (18)              22-1-0  	189	1
2. New Hampshire (1)         24-3-1	168	2
3. Minnesota Duluth          25-4-1	150	3
4. Minnesota	         23-4-3	138	4
5. Wisconsin 	         21-7-2	111	5
6. St. Lawrence	         21-8-1	90	7
7. Mercyhurst	         19-6-3	82	6
8. Connecticut	         18-5-5	51	9
9. Clarkson                  19-6-5     43        8
10. Wayne State	         17-6-3	22	NR