MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Mercyhurst College women’s hockey team fell a spot to No. 2 in the latest edition of the USCHO.com Women’s Division I Poll, released Monday afternoon by USCHO.com officials. This is the first time since the release of the first poll that Mercyhurst has not occupied the top spot.
The Lakers (20-2-3) received 140 points and five first-place votes after splitting a two-game series against College Hockey America rival Niagara last weekend at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The 2-1 loss on Saturday snapped a 16-game unbeaten streak and marked their first since Oct. 31.
The Purple Eagles, despite not being ranked, were placed among the teams receiving votes.
Minnesota captured the top spot for the first time this season with 145 points and 10 first-place votes. The Golden Gophers downed Minnesota State by the scores of 4-2 and 4-1 last weekend to improve their record to 21-3-4 and extend their unbeaten streak to 11 games.
Clarkson was tabbed third with 119 points, followed by New Hampshire at fourth with 100 points and Minnesota Duluth at fifth with 94 points. Harvard moved up a spot to sixth with 69 points, while Northeastern (63), Connecticut (50), Wisconsin (22) and Providence (9) occupied spots 7 – 10.
Mercyhurst returns to action this week with three games against CHA foe Robert Morris. The Lakers and Colonials faceoff in a make-up game from early December on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. in Erie, before traveling to Pittsburgh for a two-game set on Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, at the RMU Island Sports Center. Both games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.