The Mercyhurst Lakers made it to the 2026 AHA Championship but fell to Penn State University in the AHA Championship Finals for the fourth consecutive season. The team did not qualify for the 26 NCAA Division I tournament for the sixth consecutive year.
This was head coach Michael Sisti's 27th season. Natasha Hawkins joined Scott Spencer and Trey Flesch on the coaching team as an assistant coach. She was previously with the College of Saint Scholastica as an assistant coach and the head of strength and conditioning.
During the Smashville Showcase, Sisti recorded his 600th career win, becoming just the second Division I women's hockey coach to reach this milestone.
With Vanessa Upson graduating, Makayla Javier was named captain for the season. Jade Maisonneuve, Sofia Nuutinen were named assistant captains with Payten Evans, a transfer from Merrimack College.
In the AHA preseason poll, the Lakers were voted to finish second in the AHA. Julia Schalin, the 2025 AHA Rookie of the Year, was one of three forwards named to the All-AHA Preseason Team. The Lakers would finish the season #12 in the USCHO Poll.
Departures Departed players from the previous season. Player Position Nationality Reason Megan McKay Defense Transfer to Clarkson University Thea Johansson Forward Transfer to University of Minnesota-Duluth Mary Kromer Forward Graduation Kylee Mahoney Forward Graduation Jorden Mattison Goaltender Graduation Marielle Parks Forward Graduation Sydney Pedersen Defense Graduation Chantal Ste-Croix Forward Graduation Mary Sweetapple Defense Graduation Vanessa Upson Forward Graduation; drafted to the PWHL
Incoming
Player Position Nationality Notes Maja Ålenius Defense Played with Brynäs IF Tara Bach Goaltender Played with the Germany U18 National Team Avery Bryk Forward Played with Durham West Lightning Jessica Ciarrocchi Forward Graduate Transfer from Penn State Kate Donegan Forward Played with the Whitby Wolves Payten Evans Defense Transfer from Merrimack College Nayeon Kim Forward Played with the Korean U18 National Team Emma Leibrecht Forward Played with U19 Team Illinois Berlin Lolacher Forward Played with Regina Rebels Sophie McKinley Forward Transfer from Merrimack College Madison Nelson Forward Played with Mississauga Hurricanes Abby Poitras Defense Transfer from Merrimack College Lexi Stanat Defense Played with Burlington Barracudas Holly VanNetten Defense Played with Stoney Creek Sabres
Standings
Roster The Lakers saw a significant change in their roster with 14 new additions this year. Julia Perjus was a redshirt for the season as she was named to the Finnish Olympic Team for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
As of June 28, 2026
Schedule The Lakers played two neutral site games in Nashville as part of the Smashville NCAA Women's Hockey Showcase.
!colspan=12 style=""| Regular Season
!colspan=12 style="background:#0a2351; "| AHA Tournament
Awards and honors
Weekly AwardsPlayerAwardDate AwardedRef. Makayla Javier AHA Defenseman of the Week September 30, 2025 Magdalena Luggin AHA Goalie of the Week October 7, 2025 Holly VanNetten AHA Defenseman of the Week November 4, 2025 Julia Schalin AHA Forward of the WeekNovember 11, 2025 Magdalena Luggin AHA Goalie of the Week Julia Schalin AHA Forward of the WeekDecember 9, 2025 Julia Perjus AHA Rookie of the Week Sofia Nuutinen AHA Forward of the WeekJanuary 6, 2026 Sofia Ljung AHA Defenseman of the Week Tara Bach AHA Goalie of the Week Payten Evans AHA Defenseman of the Week January 13, 2026 Abby Poitras AHA Defenseman of the WeekJanuary 20, 2026 Magdalena Luggin AHA Goalie of the Week Sofia Nuutinen AHA Forward of the WeekJanuary 27, 2026 Magdalena Luggin AHA Goalie of the Week Berlin Lolacher AHA Rookie of the Week February 3, 2026 Jade Maisonneuve AHA Forward of the WeekFebruary 17, 2026 Tara Bach AHA Goalie of the Week Holly VanNetten AHA Rookie of the Week
Monthly AwardsPlayerAwardMonthRef. Payten Evans AHA Defenseman of the MonthDecember Julia Perjus AHA Rookie of the Month Magdalena Luggin AHA Goaltender of the MonthJanuary Julia Perjus AHA Rookie of the Month
Annual Awards & HonorsPlayerAward Julia PerjusAll-AHA Second Team Payten Evans Magdalena Luggin Julia Perjus AHA All-Rookie Team Mercyhurst Lakers Team Sportsmanship Award
References
External Links Official Website