COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Mercyhurst University women's hockey team, coming off of its third trip to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four last season, is ranked eighth in the country according to the first USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll of the year. The rankings were released on Tuesday afternoon.

Despite a dozen new faces last season, it was business as usual for the Lakers as Mercyhurst captured its 13th consecutive conference regular season title, its 11th College Hockey America (CHA) Championship, and made its ninth straight NCAA playoff appearance - extending its NCAA record.

The Lakers finished with an overall record of 29-7-1 and a 17-3-0 mark in CHA action. Mercyhurst ended the campaign ranked fifth nationally in the final USCHO.com Division I women's hockey poll. The Lakers were ranked no lower than ninth during the season, climbing as high as fourth during November. Mercyhurst became the third fastest women's hockey program to reach 350 wins with a victory January 12 at the Ice Center.

Mercyhurst upset Cornell in the national quarterfinals before bowing to Boston University in the semifinals.

The Lakers will return 16 players for the 2013-14 season, led by senior Christine Bestland, last season's CHA Player of the Year. Bestland led the team in goals (28), assists (44), points (72), power play goals (10), and game-winning goals (7). During the season, she collected her 50th career goal, 100th career assist, and her 150th career point.

Sophomore forward Jenna Dingeldein was second on the team in points with 43 and tied for third nationally in points-per-game by a rookie (1.16). She had two game-winning goals, including the overtime goal at Cornell that propelled the Lakers to the Frozen Four. Sophomore winger Emily Janiga was next with 41 points in her first season as a Laker. She finished second on the team in goals (19), power play goals (8) and game-winners (5). Another returning forward is senior Christie Cicero. The New Jersey native averaged over a point-a-game with 14 goals and 18 helpers in thirty games played. Cicero also totaled three power play goals and three game-winners.

Other returners up front include senior Kaleigh Chippy (3-8=11); junior Shelby Bram (8-23=31); and sophomores Kathy Donohue (0-6=6), Jaclyn Arbour (3-0=3), Maggie Rothgery (1-0=0), and Hannah Bale (0-0=0).

Head Coach Michael Sisti (363-99-30; 14 years) will count on four returning players to provide scoring and defensive prowess on the backline. The quartet is led by junior Molly Byrne who tied for fourth in points (32). Five of her eight goals last season came on the power play. Collaborating with Byrne will be junior Caroline Luczak (3-9=12); and sophomores Lauren Kilroy (0-7=7) and J'nai Mahadeo (0-0=0). Four-year player Stephanie DeSutter (138 career games) was the main defender lost to graduation.

Mercyhurst will welcome a pair of goaltenders back. Junior Amanda Makela started 15 games in 2012-13 and finished 9-5-1 with a goals-against-average of 2.01, a save percentage of .911 and two shutouts. Sophomore Julia DiTondo appeared in two games and stopped all eleven shots she faced.

The Golden Gophers of Minnesota, who completed the first-ever unblemished record in women's hockey history (41-0-0) en route to the National Championship last season, received 18 of the 19 first-place votes and is ranked first entering the season. Boston College received the other first-place vote and is ranked second. Clarkson, Boston University, and North Dakota round out the top five.

On Saturday, September 21, the Lakers will host University of Western Ontario in their first exhibition contest of the season, followed by the Whitby Wolves on Sunday, September 22. The contest will take place at the Mercyhurst Ice Center at 7:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. respectively. Prior to puck drop on Saturday, the Lakers will be awarded their College Hockey America championship rings from winning the 2013 CHA Championship.

School	Final Record (2012-13)	Points	Final Rank
1. Minnesota (18)	41-0-0	179	1
2. Boston College (1)	27-7-3	160	3
3. Clarkson	28-10-0	106	7
4. Boston University	28-6-3	102	2
5. North Dakota	26-12-1	100	5
6. Cornell	27-6-1	96	4
7. Wisconsin	23-10-2	94	10
8. Mercyhurst	29-7-1	70	6
9. Harvard	24-7-3	41	8
10. Northeastern	23-11-2	20	9

Other receiving votes: University of Minnesota Duluth, 8; Dartmouth College, 4; Ohio State University, 4; St. Lawrence University, 3; Quinnipiac University, 2; Providence College, 1.