No. 8 w. hockey battles Mercyhurst

It is going to be a big two days for the women's hockey team.

No. 8 Princeton (3-2-1 overall, 2-2-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey League) travels to Erie, Pa., this weekend to battle No. 11 Mercyhurst (6-2-2 overall, 3-0-1 College Hockey Association) for a two-game set, playing the first game on Saturday at 2 p.m. and the second game on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Last year, Princeton played Mercyhurst at home in another two-game series. The Tigers lost the first game, 4-2, but bounced back to take the second, 3-0.

This season has been a successful one for the Tigers thus far. Last weekend Princeton faced Ivy League rivals No. 9 Brown and No. 3 Harvard at Baker Rink on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers ousted the Bears (4-2-0 overall, 3-1-0 ECAC), 3-2, on Friday night but fell to the Crimson, 3-0, on Saturday.

Sophomore forward Laura Watt has led the Tigers through their six games to date, boasting a team-high six points. Three other players, including sophomore forward Liz Keady, who recently competed on the U.S. Women's National Team, have five points on the season. The Tigers also receive support from last year's Ivy League Rookie of the Year, sophomore Kim Pearce. The Tigers' four headed offensive monster will look to devour the Lakers over the weekend.

Sophomore forward Alison Ralph and freshman Brittany Salmon showed promise in the victory over Brown, with both of them scoring a goal. The Tigers will look to them to add more of the same in their weekend stand against Mercyhurst.

The Tiger defense has also been strong, due in large part to the efforts of senior Katharine Maglione. Junior goaltender Roxanne Gaudie has turned in some strong performances as well, notably her 24-save effort in a losing cause against Harvard. Gaudiel already has a .899 save percentage on the year, as well a 2.31 goals-against average.

Princeton certainly has the talent to defeat Mercyhurst, but the Lakers are by no means to be taken lightly. Mercyhurst fell out of the top 10 nationally only after Princeton's big win over Providence leapfrogged them past Mercyhurst in the polls.

If the Lakers hope to reclaim their place among the elite, they will need a strong game from their two senior leaders, goalie Desirae Clark and forward Teresa Marchese.

Marchese has led the way on offense this season, and was the only offense in the Laker's 1-0 win over Niagara. She has netted six goals and chipped in seven assists on the season, both of which are highs for the team. She also leads the squad in power play goals with three.

Clark, meanwhile, has made it her business to prevent opponents from putting up similar numbers. Not only has she done this effectively, putting up an impressive goals-against-average of 1.33, but she has done it with very little rest. She has logged more minutes in goal this season than all but one netminder in the nation.

Princeton's wins this season have included two against ranked teams: No. 10 Providence and No. 9 Brown. While the No. 11 Lakers will give another top test, two wins this weekend still will not help Princeton in its quest for an ECACHL title because Mercyhurst is not a league opponent.