Atlantic Hockey America will kick off the best-of-three semifinals of the conference playoffs on Friday. There are four teams remaining, with two just beginning their playoff journey. After a hard-fought double overtime victory, Syracuse will face the now nationally third-ranked Penn State, while Lindenwood’s third win in one week over RMU places them in a battle against Mercyhurst.
In this preview, we’ll tell you the tale of the two teams who moved on to the semis and give you a player to watch for those getting started.
The Format
Lindenwood defeated RMU 3-1 in a rematch of the team’s regular season finale the week prior. Syracuse upset RIT with a double overtime game winner from Emma Gnade to send the Orange to the semis.
Meanwhile, Mercyhurst and Penn State had a bye week in these first playoff series since they finished in second and first place, respectively, in the conference. The two teams had their Olympians rejoin them this week and will be eagerly waiting to hit the ice again for the semifinals starting on Thursday.
Semifinals Preview
No. 5 Syracuse vs. No. 1 Penn State
The two teams will face off starting on Friday at 6 P.M. ET, then Saturday at 3 P.M. ET and Sunday at 3 P.M. ET (if necessary).
Syracuse’s Playoffs So Far
Overtime was needed to decide the winner between No. 5 Syracuse and No. 4 RIT. Emma Gnade scored the game winning goal less than four minutes into the second overtime. The Orange entered the third period leading 3-1, but gave up back-to-back goals to the Tigers in 28 seconds to make it a brand-new game. While both teams had chances in the remaining third period and first overtime, no one found the back of the net until Gnade managed to find the puck after a scramble in front and net the game winner. But giving up two goals in quick succession to allow the opponent to tie the game will be something the Orange need to fix heading into their semifinal round.
With this upset in their first playoff game, Syracuse will now face nationally third-ranked Penn State in State College. The Nittany Lions had an incredible season, which included a lengthy 16-game winning streak, and only lost to four opponents all season. Their overall record was 29-5-0 and their conference record was 22-2-0.
In the season series, Penn State swept the four games and outscored Syracuse 25-5. The Nittany Lions did manage one shutout of the Orange on Nov. 14, winning 7-0. They will also have their Olympians back in the lineup for this series. Nicole Hall, Matilde Fantin, and gold medalist Tessa Janecke will all be back in time for the semis.
Who to Watch
Penn State: Katie DeSa
One of their biggest advantages is in net with the goalie duo of Katie DeSa and Maddy Campbell, who combined for 14 shutouts this season. DeSa is the player to watch, because along with her conference leading 10 shutouts, she finished the season with a .933 save percentage and a 1.36 goals-against average, which ranks third in the nation. A semifinalist for the HCA 2026 Women’s Hockey Goalie of the Year Award for the second straight season, DeSa put together a great senior season that included a 23-3-0 record. When she’s on her game, she is unstoppable. And with almost two weeks off to regroup and practice, she is more than ready to return to play.
No. 3 Lindenwood vs. No. 2 Mercyhurst
The two teams will face off on Friday at 3 P.M. ET, Saturday at 1 P.M. ET, and Sunday at 1 P.M. ET (if necessary)
Lindenwood’s Playoffs So Far
RMU and Lindenwood met for the third time in one week. The Lions ended the regular season with a sweep of the Colonials and continued where they left off. On Saturday, they managed a 3-1 win, thanks in part to goaltender Madison Bowtell. She made 31 of the game’s 32 saves, including stopping the 14 shots RMU put up after tying the game at one in the second period. This was the first playoff win for the Lions since 2017. With this win, Lindenwood will face Mercyhurst in the semifinals.
During the season, the teams played four times. The Lakers won three times, outscoring the Lions 17-3 in those games. Mercyhurst ended the season on a nine-game unbeaten streak. They capped off the regular season with a 7-0 shutout against Syracuse on Feb. 14. Their record at the end of the season was 21-10-3 and they had a conference record of 17-5-2. That could spell trouble for the Lions, especially with the bye week for Mercyhurst and the return of Olympian Julia Schalin.
Who to Watch
Mercyhurst: Julia Perjus
Redshirt freshman Julia Perjus is the team’s leading scorer and finished the regular season with 36 points in her first season of college hockey with 15 goals and 21 assists. She recorded six points against Lindenwood, including four assists in one game. Perjus ended the season with seven points in three games, and she most likely will continue that hot streak heading into her first postseason.
You can check out more info on the AHA postseason page here.
We’ll be back to preview the AHA championship which will take place in a single elimination game on March 7.