The Official Thread of the Mercyhurst Lakers

[MICZamboni]

Final Lakers 4 Raiders 2

Chrissy Yule scored at the 2:04 mark from Millar and Shirley.
No shots on goal was announced at the end of the game so I dont know what it was. Mercyhurst dominated the 3rd period but not like the 2nd. Good win for the Lakers.
Next is St. Cloud.

[ARM]

MICZamboni, Was Mercyhurst a deeper team than Colgate; i.e., did they skate more people a significant amount of time such that they wore down Colgate by the second half of the contest?

[MICZamboni]

ARM,
Sorry I didnt get back with you. Quite honestly, I didn't even get back to this thread for quite a while. I dont have any answers for you because I wasn't at the game. I can tell you that Mercyhurst usually goes deep into their bench for most of the games they have been playing at home, even the St. Lawerence game they played a month ago.

As for the games this past weekend against St. Cloud. I was very disappointed to see the results of the friday game. I know the Lakers aren't used to the olympic size rink but you cant let that be an excuse. From what I understand Mercyhurst controlled the play again but couldnt bury their chances. I was also told Mercyhurst played better friday than they did Saturday when they shut them out. I dont think losing is that big of a deal sometimes, especially in this case. Maybe this is a wake up call to some of the upper classman who, IMO, havent showed up to play yet. With the schedule the Lakers have coming up maybe this loss will serve them good. I do think had the Lakers won they could have been in the top 5 when the polls come out later today.

[ARM]

Having seen St. Cloud play, losing to them is not as inexcusable as people are making it out to be. St. Cloud has some very good players. They have just been inconsistant at some positions, including goaltending. I like their chances of pulling a few upsets more so than a team like Bemidji St.

[MICZamboni]

I think the next 17 days are going to be the most critical days in the season for the Mercyhurst Lakers. The thing is, in the next 17 days (2 with Yale at home this weekend, then Prov and NH at home the next weekend then 2 at Minnesota the 16th and 17th) the only thing Mercyhurst can do is pretty much guarantee themselves not to be in the frozen four because even if they win they can still screw it up with some bad losses later on. If they lose 2 of those games in the next 2 and half weeks anywhere I think they are done. I really think the Lakers can sweep the next 6 games though but its going to take the freshman to play with no fear and the upperclassman to play with intensity and brains. No stupid penalties and timely goals would be nice.

I would think Yale is going to come into Erie with upset on their minds. I think Yale is better than most might think. They are a fast team that doesnt give up. They probably want to show Coach Marchetti (formerly of Yale) of Mercyhurst that they can still play. It seems like whoever Mercyhurst plays recently there is some sort of connection with Mercyhurst. First, Coach Fetter of Wayne St. comes in and his girls are either better than last year or he had them siked up to play his old team. Then Mercyhurst has to travel to Niagara where Marchese Del Monte played last year and I am sure the Eagles were set on showing Theresa she made a mistake. Now with Yale and Providence next on the schedule where Marchetti coached, those girls will come in with a little extra on their mind.

Just 6 huge games coming up. I hope the Lakers can run the table and finally get into the top 5, maybe in 4.

[ARM]

Originally posted by MICZamboni
I really think the Lakers can sweep the next 6 games though but its going to take the freshman to play with no fear and the upperclassman to play with intensity and brains. No stupid penalties and timely goals would be nice.

If my memory is correct, Minnesota has been swept 5 times in the last 4 1/2 years: twice by team USA, twice by UMD, and once by a Dartmouth team that finished the regular season ranked number one. So while it is possible for the Lakers to sweep the Gophers, I don't think it is that likely.

The games figure to be close and low-scoring. In such a game, it is nice to have players of the caliber of Darwitz and Wendell, who can singlehandedly beat a couple of opponents to create a goal. While Mercyhurst has good players like Shirley and Marchese Del Monte, I don't think they are quite at that level. Since Minnesota figures to have an edge on the PP, Mercyhurst's best chance would seem to be if they can get a clear victory in the battle of the goaltenders.

We can analyze this more in two weeks, when we see how the teams are playing coming out of the break.

[MICZamboni]

Originally posted by ARM
If my memory is correct, Minnesota has been swept 5 times in the last 4 1/2 years: twice by team USA, twice by UMD, and once by a Dartmouth team that finished the regular season ranked number one. So while it is possible for the Lakers to sweep the Gophers, I don't think it is that likely.



I certainly didn't mean that the Lakers should be able to or even that it was likely that they would sweep Minnesota. I just meant that they could if everyone, and I mean everyone, brought there A game. I hope the Lakers step up to the challange over the next 16 days.

[MICZamboni]

Coach Sisti is looking for his 100th career win today as a coach. Actually, this would make the programs 100th victory since he did start the program back in 1999. He should be able to get it today against Yale. Good luck Lakers and Coach Sisti.

I will try update the game as it happens on this thread today if there any parents who may be interested in how they are doing.

[MICZamboni]

They just dropped the puck.

[saj]

Thanks MIC, I like getting the info here when the game isnt broadcast.

[MICZamboni]

No scoring or penalties after one period. Shots on goal 10-5 in favor of Mercyhurst. The Lakers coming out a little rusty.

[MICZamboni]

The Lakers score at 1:15 of the first. Marchase Del Monte score with assist from Shirley and Pendelton.

[saj]

MIC -- Was the score in the first period or the second?

[MICZamboni]

Sorry, it was the second. Anyway, after 2 it is 1-0 Mercyhurst. Shots on goal were 11-9 in favor of the Lakers. Mercyhurst has been in the box 3 times compared to the Bulldogs none. Yale starts the 3rd with a minuteto go in a power play. THe shots on goal are close due to the power plays for Yale.

[MICZamboni]

Sorry I am a little behind. I won a birthday party to Splash Lagoon and all kinds of stuff happened. Anyway, with about 5:00 to go in the game its 2-1 Mercyhurst. Bonello scored at about the 15:00 mark from Del Monte and Shirley. Yale countered back around the 10:00 mark but I didnt catch the name. The ref found his whistle and has been using it at a good rate now. I will update at the end.

[MICZamboni]

Mercyhurst scored with a little over 5 min to go then Yale responded right back. Yale outshot Mercyhurst 13-10 in the final period. Game ended 3-2.

[MICZamboni]

Mercyhurst looked a little slugish today and is probably due to the long layoff. Yale is not a bad hockey team. I was impressed with their work ethic and overall team speed. This was a good game for Mercyhurst coming off the long break. Yale is good enough that they gave the Lakers a good battle. Mercyhurst spent a lot of time in the sin bin which gave Yale quite a few chances to score hence the close shots on goal. This game was close enough that I expect tomorrows game to be the same. I would think that if Mercyhurst would have blown them away Yale wouldn't put up much of a game tomorrow. Tomorrows game is being telecast on local tv which may give Yale even more incentive to play hard.

Congrats to Coach Sisti and the Mercyhurst Lakers on their 100th career victory.

Nice game out of Clark, Bourbeau, Shirley and Del Monte in particular. I saw a lot of hustle out of most of the girls.

[MICZamboni]

I will try to do a little better job today. I had many distractions yesterday.

They are about to drop the puck.

[MICZamboni]

Mercyhurst on the power play. 11:05 Simonson tripping.

[MICZamboni]

Just as the penalty expired the train horns are a blowing. Barch scores her 5th of the season from Yule and Pendelton at 13:09 of the 1st.