Weekend Preview: Inter-League Clashes On Tap
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Five ECAC Hockey
women's members will take to the ice this weekend in non-conference
action, including No. 7-ranked St. Lawrence, which tangles with
McGill in an exhibition contest marking the debut of new Saints'
head coach Chris Wells behind the bench. Three of those
teams, Clarkson, Rensselaer and Union will open regular-season
play.
At Union, Boston University/Northeastern:
The Dutchwomen begin their 2008-09 campaign this weekend taking on
Boston University Friday at 7 p.m. and Northeastern Saturday in a 4
p.m. matinee affair. Union netminder Lundy Day, who played in
30 games last season, is expected to get the starts between the
pipes this weekend. The senior captain averaged more than 30
saves per game last season in overall play. Union boasts a
new look on the ice this season with 12 freshmen joining the 10
returning players from last season. The Dutchwomen will look
to add some firepower to their offense with seven of the 12
newcomers being forwards.
At Rensselaer, Northeastern/Boston
University: The Engineers also tangle with
Northeastern and Boston University at home this weekend. This
season's outlook looks promising in Troy, as Rensselaer is coming
off a pair of exhibition wins last weekend. Rensselaer
welcomes Northeastern Friday evening at 7 p.m and Boston University
Saturday at 2 p.m. The Engineers return their top scorer from
last season in junior Whitney Naslund (8G 14A 22PTS). The
Engineers will showcase a solid one-two punch between the pipes
with senior Ashley Mayr and sophomore Sonja van der Bliek.
At No. 7 St. Lawrence, McGill: New Saints'
head coach Chris Wells becomes the third ECACHockey head coach to
make a debut behind the bench this season, as the Saints take on
McGill in an exhibition contest Friday at 7 p.m. Wells a
former Associate Head Coach for Saints' men's program since 2003
takes over the reigns for the women's program this season.
St. Lawrence, currently ranked No. 7 in the nation in the USA
Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll, finished
second last season in league play and posted a 28-10-1 overall
record. The Saints return plenty of weapons on offense with
forwards junior Tara Akstull (14G 28A 42PTS) and seniors Carson
Duggan (21G 15A 36PTS) and Alison Domenico (17G 19A 36PTS).
At Quinnipiac, St. Cloud State: The Bobcats
will host St. Cloud State in their home opener at TD Banknorth
Center this weekend in a two-game set, where since January 2007,
83% of the team's wins have come. Quinnipiac will host the
Huskies first Friday at 7 p.m. and then Saturday at 4 p.m.
After tallying one goal versus Wisconsin last weekend, bringing her
career total to 34, senior forward Elyse Cole is just two goals
away from tying the program record for most career goals
scored. Quinnipiac not only has a new look behind its bench
with new head coach Rick Seeley, but the Bobcats have ten newcomers
donning the school's sweaters on the ice, including nine
freshmen.
Clarkson at Boston College: After to
skating to an exhibition win last weekend the Golden Knights
officially open the 2008-09 campaign this weekend with a pair of
games on the road against national power Boston College.
Clarkson will be challenged early in the season, as its first six
games are against teams ranked among the top 12 in the country in
the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Preseason
Poll. Expectations are high in Potsdam, N.Y., as first-year
head coaches Matt and Shannon Desrosiers, the first
husband-and-wife head coaching tandem in college hockey history,
will guide the 15 returning letterwinners, which posted a 24-9-5
mark last season. Clarkson and Boston College are tied in the
rivalry with a 2-2-1 since meeting for the first time in the
2004-05 season.
