complete game notes in .pdf format

Storyline
The Lindenwood women's ice hockey team ends 2011 with a two-game series at Mercyhurst. The Lady Lions have already played the top-10 Lakers twice this season, losing 7-0 and 14-1.

This series will be the second time this season that the Lady Lions will be facing a team for a second series. The first time, Lindenwood showed a lot of improvement the second go-around, especially in even-strength action. The Lady Lions hope to show similar improvement this time against the Lakers.

Mercyhurst comes into the game with a 12-4-0 mark after splitting a series last weekend against No. 4 Boston College.

Last Time Out
Lindenwood played two of its closest NCAA Division I games yet against Syracuse, but came up just short of a victory.

In game one, the Orange outscored Lindenwood 5-0 in the second period, which was the difference in a 6-2 loss. Samantha Moore and Allysson Arcibal each scored goals for the Lady Lions, and Mara Post and Alison Wickenheiser had assists.

Lindenwood took a 1-0 lead in the third period of game two on a goal by Caitlyn Post. Syracuse answered six minutes later and the game went into overtime. In the extra period, the Orange scored 3:42 in for the win. Taylor Fairchild stopped 45 of 47 shots in the game.

Top Rookie
Alison Wickenheiser has been one of the top scoring rookies in the NCAA this season. The freshman is averaging a point a game with six goals and 11 assists. If Lindenwood was eligible for the NCAA statistics, she would rank sixth among rookies for points per game.

Goalkeeping Numbers
Taylor Fairchild had her best series of the season against Syracuse. Fairchild stopped 91.5 percent of the shots she faced and had 86 saves in the two games.

On the season, Fairchild has made 674 saves and has a .861 save percentage.

Off the Posts
The duo of Caitlyn Post and Mara Post had a hand in two of Lindenwood's three goals versus Syracuse. Mara Post assisted on the first goal in game one of the series, and Caitlyn Post put Lindenwood ahead in game two of the series.

On the season, Caitlyn Post is tied for second on the team in goals and is fourth in points. She has four goals and two assists. Mara Post is tied for sixth on the team with three assists.

Faceoff Leaders
Alyssa West and Caitlyn Post have been the top Lady Lions on faceoffs. Both players are winning 48 percent of the time. As a team, Lindenwood has won 40 percent of the faceoffs.

Early Game Success
Lindenwood has been strong defensively in the first period this season. The Lady Lions are allowing two goals a period in the first 20 minutes. Eight times, Lindenwood has allowed one or less goal in the first period, and four times, including the last two games, it shutout a team in the first period.

Conference Breakdown
Lindenwood is 0-8-0 this season against CHA members, 0-5-0 versus WCHA teams, 0-2 against ECAC squads, and 1-1 versus NCAA Division III programs.

Vs. Ranked Teams
Lindenwood has played five top-10 teams this season and is 0-5-0. The Lady Lions have three remaining games with two this week against Mercyhurst and one versus North Dakota.

2012 Schedule
Lindenwood will have an easier schedule during the 2012 portion of the season. The Lady Lions open up by playing nationally-ranked North Dakota in a single game. That contest will be followed by five straight road games against NCAA Division III programs.

The biggest series is a road battle against Sacred Heart. That could be the team's best shot at a victory over a NCAA Division I team. The Lady Lions also play two games at Saint Michael's to end their official season.

Lindenwood also has five exhibition games at the Lindenwood Ice Arena against ACHA programs.

Earlier This Year
Lindenwood was swept by Mercyhurst earlier this season in a series at the Lindenwood Ice Arena.

In game one, the Lady Lions had a strong first period and were down just 1-0 against the then No. 8 team in the country. Lindenwood got in penalty trouble the rest of the game and allowed six goals in the final two periods.

In the second game, Mercyhurst stole the momentum late in the first period and scored 12 unanswered goals in the final 43 minutes of the game. Five of those goals were on the power play.

About the Lakers
Mercyhurst just got through one of its toughest portions of the schedule by splitting series with No. 3 Cornell and No. 4 Boston College.

The Lakers are third in the nation in scoring with nearly five goals a game, and they are seventh in scoring defense. They also have some of the top special teams, including leading the NCAA in power-play goals.

Bailey Bram leads NCAA Division I with 2.5 points a game and nine power-play goals. She has 18 goals and 22 assists. Christine Bestland has 13 goals and 20 assists, and Kelley Steadman has scored 14 times.

Goalkeeper Hillary Pattenden tied the NCAA career wins mark last weekend at 91. She has a 1.83 GAA on the season and is saving 93.8 percent of the shots.

Head coach of the Lakers is Michael Sisti. He has won over 300 games in 13 seasons at the school.