ERIE, Pa. - Head coach Michael Sisti and the Mercyhurst University women's hockey team have announced the signing of four student-athletes who will continue their playing careers at Mercyhurst beginning in the 2013-14 season. Three forwards - Taylor Accursi, Brianna Kennelly, and Megan Whiddon; and one defenseman - Paige Horton, will wear the blue and green next season for the Lakers.

Accursi, a 5-7 forward from Ancaster, Ontario, is currently the assistant captain for the Burlington Barracudas in the Provincial Women's Hockey League. She is second on the team in scoring this season with eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 19 games. She leads the team with three game-winning goals and is second on the team with three power play goals. Last season with the Barracudas, Accursi had nine goals and ten assists for 19 points in 22 games and then scored five points in six playoff games. She was a member of the Ontario Blue squad that captured the championship at the U-18 Women's Hockey Championships in Dawson Creek, British Columbia in November. Ontario Blue upset six-time champion Ontario Red, 7-1 in the semifinals and then defeated Team Manitoba 4-2 to capture the title.

Kennelly, a 5-1 forward from Dundas, Ontario, currently plays for the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres in the Provincial Women's Hockey League. Kennelly had eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 32 games last season for the Jr. Sabres. This season, she had an assist in Stoney Creek's exhibition game against Mercyhurst back on September 22, a game that saw Mercyhurst win by a 10-1 final. Kennelly is also a member of the Canadian National Floorball team.

Whiddon, a 5-5 forward from Redondo Beach, California, currently plays for the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, New York. She leads the Academy with 20 goals and 20 assists for 40 points in just 11 games this season. In five of the team's 11 games, Whiddon has scored at least four points, including a season-high four goals and three assists against Colorado Select on December 1. Last season, she had 15 goals and 12 assists for 27 points in 28 games. Whiddon was also invited to participate in the U.S. Select U-17 camp in St. Cloud, Minnesota last summer.

The only defenseman signed is Horton, a 5-9 defender from St. Thomas, Ontario. Horton is currently the team captain for the London Jr. Devilettes in the Provincial Women's Hockey League and is second on the team in scoring with two goals and 18 assists for 20 points in 15 games. Her 20 points lead the PWHL in points by a defenseman. A dozen of her 20 points have come on the power play (one goal, 11 assists). Last season with the Jr. Devilettes, Horton had eight goals and 22 assists for 30 points in 34 games, and then added six assists in five playoff games. All told, the defenseman has 60 career points in 85 games with London. She was a teammate of Accursi's on the Ontario Blue team that captured the championship at the U-18 Women's Hockey Championships in Dawson Creek, British Columbia in November.

The Mercyhurst women's hockey team is seventh in the country with a record of 14-3-1 on the season. The Lakers will return to action on January 3, 2013 in an exhibition game against the Buffalo Bison at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m.  Mercyhurst will also hold its third annual Skate with the Lakers on Friday, December 14 from 3:45 to 5:45.