The Official Thread of the Mercyhurst Lakers

[quixote]

I have only live stats to go by and Hurley is in net. It is near the end of the first and no more goals but lots of penalties (a lot for hooking).

[quixote]

End of 1st MC 3 and Clarkson 2
6 penalties for MC and 3 for Clarkson

[MICZamboni]

Like I said, I wasnt at the game but it looks like Agosta continues to play well and Chouinard is playing big also. LakerFan, where you there and what did you see?

[LakersFan]

The game winning goal was scored at 4:12 in the first period, which pretty much explains the whole game. I must admit I spent more time writing things down on the score sheet than watching the game the first five minutes (4 goals, 4 penalties). The flow of the game was choppy. There were 74 face-offs, or on average, one every 49 seconds of game time (this is what you get when you read a statisticans post). Clarkson ran out of gas in the third period, but it didn't matter at the point.

One man's grades:

Offense: A. Probably could have scored more, but many players saw ice time in the third. Agosta rang one off the post. For the first time in my five years following Lake hockey, I am know thinking that they will score when the come down on a 2 on 1 or 3 or 2, not hoping they score as I have in the past.

Defense and Goaltending: C. Defense is not sharp enough yet, which does not make me happy considering Dartmouth comes to town next week. Yes, Clarkson was held to 15 shots, but that first period was shaky.

Special Teams: B. The first period was a C, as they let in two power plays goals. The rest of the game was A level stuff.

[MICZamboni]

I got to the game at the very beginning of the 2nd period and I must say, I was impressed with the heart of the Clarkson players. They skated hard, really hard. Mercyhurst I thought played pretty good but couldn't get it past the Clarkson goalie.
The last two Clarkson goals were scored on the opposite side of the rink that I was standing at the time and, IMO, both goals should have been stopped by Drennen. She looked rusty but she hasn't played in a while.
I am guessing Mercyhurst will drop a spot or two in the rankings but it won't mean much with the big series next week against Dartmouth. If someone can come out of that series with 3 or 4 points they will climb the rankings anyway.

Good luck Lakers!!!!

[MICZamboni]

I was impressed with the amount of people at the game on Saturday. The "official" count was 1200. Not sure how accurate that is but it is probably the 2nd biggest crowd I have seen at Mercyhurst for a women's game. I noticed more community members than usual and not just the students. The student section was also bigger. I hope this continues and helps with the recruiting. Mercyhurst seems to be doing everything right (except for the tie yesterday) in the way of recruiting big names and getting butts in the seats. Keep it up!!!

By the way LakerFan, any thoughts on Saturdays game? I wasn't there for the first period but I was impressed with Clarkson.

[LakersFan]

I was impressed with Clarkson's goalie, Kira Hurley. Mercyhurst let them back in the game when Clarkson tied it 3-3. As far as I could tell, the freshmen defense were benched after the third goal and Nugent was put on the blueline after starting the game at center.

Offense: B-. Hurley made some solid saves, but we generated some nice chances.

Defense and goaltending: C-. 3 goals on 13 shot says it all. There were mistakes that a more talented offensive team would have converted to goals. Strange to see a Mercyhurst team with problems in this part of their game.

Special Teams: B. Power-play was clicking. Penalty kill needs a little work.

[MICZamboni]

The Erie Times News continues to do a good job supporting Mercyhurst Hockey, not only on the mens side, but on the womens side. This is a great article about the olympians playing this weekend in Erie.

Heavy Medals
Mercyhurst-Dartmouth series features 5 Olympic medal winners

By Bob Jarzomski
bob.jarzomski@timesnews.com
Five Olympians, four gold medals, one bronze. Two top 10 programs in a search for the same brass ring.
That all comes into focus Saturday and Sunday at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
"It would be very difficult to find one sport that will have five Olympic medalists playing in the same game," Mercyhurst College women's ice hockey coach Michael Sisti said about this weekend's meetings between his fourth-ranked Lakers and seventh-ranked Dartmouth College.
Since NCAA Division I women's hockey only began to blossom in the late 1990s fueled by the Cammi Granato-led U.S. women's gold medal-winning team in 1998, the names are not the household variety. But each one is every bit a medal winner on ice like Sasha Cohen, who took silver at Turin for the U.S. in the all-important TV ratings baby, women's figure skating.
Dartmouth, a three-time visitor to the women's Frozen Four but yet to break the championship ice, boasts three gold medal winners from Team Canada, senior forwards Cherie Piper, - she also won gold in 2002 - Gillian Apps and Katie Weatherston.
Freshman forward Sarah Parsons, considered one of the best young players in the United States, wore the bronze.
Mercyhurst boasts acclaimed freshman forward Meghan Agosta, who deferred from enrolling into a college and eventually took home a gold medal with Team Canada. Agosta, from Ruthven, Ontario, is already being used in radio and television recruiting ads for Mercyhurst.
Agosta, 19, who was befriended by all of the older Dartmouth players, especially Piper, gained all the more valuable experience by delaying her collegiate career and preparing for the Turin (Italy) Winter Olympics.
"I made many friendships, and learned so much, and now it's going to be so cool playing against the people that spent so much time together to win a gold medal," Agosta said.
Mix in the Olympic players with clubs already stocked with talent, the Big Green-Lakers clashes promise to be a hockey showcase weekend.
"They are on the rise, that's for sure," Dartmouth's fourth-year coach Mark Hudak said of the Lakers, who have yet to beat Dartmouth but tied once and lost three highly-competitive games. Hudak, a Lake Placid, N.Y. native who has crossed paths with Buffalo's Sisti climbing the coaching ranks, acknowledged the talent the heavily-recruited Agosta possesses.
"Meghan is a very good, skilled, crafty player who works extremely hard," Hudak said.
Sisti, an assistant to longtime men's coach Rick Gotkin before he started the women's program from scratch in 1999 and lost twice in overtime in the NCAA tournament the past two seasons, said the four medal-winning Dartmouth players are as good as advertised.
"They took a full year off from school to play in the Olympics, and I think some of them, (the 25-year-old Piper only) deferred from going to college to play in the 2002 Olympics," Sisti said. "Obviously these players are older and very experienced, so this team is probably better than that team (2004-05) that went to the Frozen Four."
Sisti declared Apps, 22, as the "premier power forward in women's hockey," and said that Parsons, 19, a player he recruited, "could be the one the torch is passed to who will lead the United States in the future."
Agosta knows them all, which usually happens among the elite hockey players who travel the same circles at camps and world class tournaments.
The Winter Olympics proved to be the ultimate.
"When I first moved to Calgary (to train), I was a little nervous, and didn't know what to expect," Agosta said. "I wasn't sure where I would fit in. But being on a team, I made many friendships, one being Cherie Piper. She looked after me, picked me up for practices and games. That was pretty cool."
The two will meet again over the next two days, but will be oblivious on the ice.
"I talk with her two or three times a week, and I'll probably text (message) her this weekend," Agosta said. "That's what a friendship is. Once we get on the ice though, you don't know the person."
BOB JARZOMSKI can be reached at 870-1678 or by e-mail.

[ARM]

Many good matchups this weekend -- Clarkson/SLU, Princeton/BC, and Minnesota/Wisconsin come to mind. But IMO, the Dartmouth/Mercyhurst games will do more to indicate where the balance of power lies than any other action to date. I hope many people in Erie get out to watch.

[MICZamboni]

Unfortunately, I can only stay this period and I have to go but after one period it is tied. Mercyhurst looked scared coming out and had 3 penalties in the first 1:06 of the game. They were all stupid penalties in my opinion. Dartmouth looks good on the power play and they look fast. Mercyhurst scored two late goals in the period to make what could have been a blow out into a game. If Mercyhurst plays with "passion" the rest of the way, they can come out with a "V". Dartmouth outshot Mercyhurst 12-8 in the period which isn't bad considering how much time the Lakers have spent in the sin box.

[dayglo]

[QUOTE=MICZamboni;2753669]Unfortunately, I can only stay this period and I have to go but after one period it is tied. Mercyhurst looked scared coming out and had 3 penalties in the first 1:06 of the game. They were all stupid penalties in my opinion. Dartmouth looks good on the power play and they look fast. Mercyhurst scored two late goals in the period to make what could have been a blow out into a game. . . /QUOTE]

Thanks for the info MICZ. A lot can change from the start of a period to the end. With Piper back, the dartmouth PP should have instantly improved dramatically.

[MICZamboni]

Like I said before, I didnt get to see the last two periods but I got a call from a friend at the rink saying the Lakers win.
Biggest win in Mercyhurst history??? Maybe, maybe not but it is certainly a big win for the Lakers. Here is the deal though, tomorrows game is equally as big if not bigger. Lets hope the Lakers can do it again.

LakersFan-How about a summary as soon as you can?

[LakersFan]

Huge win for the Lakers. Big because we beat a powerhouse for the first team, but also big because we were down 0-2 and scored four unaswered goals.

My quick impression is that Dartmouth goalie, Clemis, played great in the first period. She robbed Agosta at point blank range. In the second period, she played below average, and that was the difference. Dartmouth failed to convert on two different 5 on 3 chances during the game, and that cost them. Mercyhurst defense also blocked a shot that was going in to the open net on a Dartmouth powerplay that saved the game.

It was a great game. Congrats to Coach Sisti and the team. Can't wait for Sunday.

[MICZamboni]

End of one, nobody scores. Not much to write. I would give the slight edge to Mercyhurst for the period. Dartmouth goalie playing well and making some nice saves. Same for Hosier however I wish she would stop giving up so many easy rebounds. The Laker's doing a great job of clearing the rebounds.

I didnt catch the shots on goals for the period.

More to come.

[MICZamboni]

Jill Nugent scores about 8:00 into the period. The puck sort of bounced behind the Dartmouth goalie and hit the back of her and went in. Mercyhurst seems to be controlling the play again in the period.

[MICZamboni]

Mercyhurst outshoots Dartmouth 9-4 in the period. Mercyhurst put a lot of pressure on Dartmouth in the last minute of play. Many good chances for the Lakers. Nugent's goal so far is standing up.
Chouinard almost scored short handed with about 6 minutes to go but couldn't get enough stick on the puck.
Should be an exciting 3rd.

[dayglo]

Mercyhurst outshoots Dartmouth 9-4 in the period. Mercyhurst put a lot of pressure on Dartmouth in the last minute of play.

It sounded that way from the live stats. Disappointing from a big green fan's perspective - except that so far it would appear Clemis is playing well.

[MICZamboni]

Sorry this took so long. Things to do, people to talk to.

It appears they changed the goal to Leslie McArthur. Good for her. That kid works hard and causes so many turnovers.

Anyway, Hosier made some absolutely huge saves in the period. Her save on a breakaway was the play of the game. In my opinion, Mercyhurst is the better team. I realize this was the opening weekend for Dartmouth but the schedule is what it is.

This has got to be a big confidence booster for the gals and I hope they play with the same intensity and passion the rest of the season.

[dave1381]

In my opinion, Mercyhurst is the better team. I realize this was the opening weekend for Dartmouth but the schedule is what it is.
Obviously, Mercyhurst was the better team this weekend, hardly a surprise. If you're certain that Mercyhurst will be a better team one month from now or in March, then I think you're reading way too much into one weekend (though it's certainly possible that Mercyhurst will still be better). Not to mention, Mercyhurst was at home, and Dartmouth was short an Olympian -- in particularly, their Olympian who has been the most successful at the college level. So certainly a good achievement for Mercyhurst, they're right were they want to be, now they have their cut out for them in terms of being the better team next week, and the following week, right on through until March.

[MICZamboni]

Obviously, Mercyhurst was the better team this weekend, hardly a surprise. If you're certain that Mercyhurst will be a better team one month from now or in March, then I think you're reading way too much into one weekend (though it's certainly possible that Mercyhurst will still be better).

This is what I was trying to say in my post. I do realize that this was the opening week for Dartmouth. Will the Lakers be better than Dartmouth in a month? Who knows. I never said I was certain they would be but I do hope so.