Penn State Women's Hockey to Face Mercyhurst
The Nittany Lions carry a seven-game win streak into a Friday road series against the Lakers.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Hockey
Penn State women's hockey returns from a bye week to face Mercyhurst in a road series beginning Friday at 6 p.m. The Nittany Lions have won seven straight games and have won all four conference championship meetings with Mercyhurst.
Why it matters
The series pits the AHA's two highest-scoring teams against each other, with Penn State and Mercyhurst recording 39 and 37 goals this season. Penn State will not play at home again until its November 19 game against Delaware.
Penn State has scored 39 goals and allowed 19 this season, while Mercyhurst has scored 37 and allowed a league-best 18, with a 98% penalty-kill rate. Both teams rank as the AHA's top two offenses, and the series outcome may shift those totals.
The players
Penn State Nittany Lions
The women's ice hockey program of Pennsylvania State University competes in the Atlantic Hockey America conference and has a long record of postseason competition.
Mercyhurst Lakers
The women's ice hockey program of Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, competes in the Atlantic Hockey America conference.
The details
Penn State is coming off a bye week after sweeping RIT 7-0 across two games. The Nittany Lions have not played at home since October 17, when they swept Lindenwood, and the Mercyhurst series will be played on the road.
Timeline
- October 17: Penn State swept Lindenwood in its last home game.
- Friday, 6 p.m.: Penn State faces Mercyhurst.
- Saturday, 1 p.m.: Penn State faces Mercyhurst again.
- November 19: Penn State hosts Delaware in its next home game.
Season Trajectory
Penn State has faced Mercyhurst in each of the last four AHA conference championships and has won all four meetings, making this road series a continuation of that rivalry. The matchup between the conference's top two scoring teams offers an early read on how the postseason picture may take shape.
The series sets up the next two weeks of AHA standings movement, and fans following Penn State can track Friday and Saturday's results to gauge the team's streak. Penn State will not host another game until November 19, so attending in person requires travel to the road venues.
The takeaway
The win streak and the rivalry history make Friday's opener a useful measure of where Penn State stands in the conference. Following the scores over the weekend will show whether the streak continues against a defense that has allowed the fewest goals in the AHA.
What happens next
Penn State's next home game is against Delaware on November 19.
Further reading
For more on the program's recent run, see Hockey coverage across Pennsylvania.
