Weekly Release: Midpoint Log Jam

ALBANY, N.Y. - ECAC Hockey has been the benefactor of entertaining play in the first part of the season, as three teams, Dartmouth, Rensselaer and St. Lawrence are currently tied for the top position with identical 6-1-1 records.  The league also has three teams that are nationally-ranked at the midway point of the season with St. Lawrence sitting at No. 4/4, Dartmouth positioned at No. 5/5 and Harvard tied for the No. 9/9 spot.

Rensselaer, riding a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) was one of two league teams to win two games last week.  The Engineers earned their third weekend sweep of a league opponent this season by winning a pair of one-goal games.  RPI stopped Quinnipiac Friday, 2-1, behind sophomore goalie Sonja van der Bliek, who turned away 24 of the 25 shots she faced, including 11 in the second period.  The following day was much the same, as RPI edged Princeton 3-2 with the help of freshman Alisa Harrison's goal at 19:34 of the second period, which proved to be the game-winner 

Princeton was the other ECAC Hockey team to win two games last week, as it was victorious in two of three league games it played.  The Tigers tamed the Bobcats in a midweek clash by a count of 4-2 Tuesday.  Junior defender Stephanie Denino scored a goal and set one up in the final six minutes to boost the Tigers in the win over Quinnipiac.  The Dutchwomen were Princeton's other victim over the weekend, as senior Annie Greenwood and sophomore Laura Martindale each had two goals and an assist in a 6-0 blanking of Union.

Quinnipiac would find the win column over the weekend, as senior forward Elyse Cole scored a goal and had two assists and sophomore forward Kelley Davies scored two goals in helping the Bobcats to their second win of the season, 4-1 against Union Saturday afternoon at the TD Banknorth Sports Center.

Cornell's record of 1-0-1 last week was the direct result of the offensive firepower that has been a factor each week.  Junior forward Liz Zorn scored a shorthanded goal in the third period to win the game for the Big Red at Clarkson, 3-2 Friday.  Junior net minder Jenny Nieluchowski made 21 saves in net for the Big Red.  Sophomore forward Rebecca Johnston's three goals helped Cornell Saturday battle to a 4-4 tie against third-ranked St. Lawrence at Appleton Arena.  The tie snapped a 19-game losing streak for the Big Red women against the Saints.

The Saints also posted a 1-0-1 record over the weekend.  Junior goaltender Brittony Chartier made 27 saves including 11 in the third period, while senior Carson Duggan's 13th goal of the season proved to be the game-winner, as the Saints won a hard-fought 3-1 game versus Colgate.

The Raiders would bounce back Saturday to earn a 2-2 overtime tie at Clarkson.  Colgate would battle back from a two-goal deficit to earn the tie.  Freshman netminder Kimberly Sass stopped 19 shots for the Raiders, while sophomore Lauren Dahm turned away 21 for Clarkson.

In match-up of top ten teams, No. 9/9 Harvard played to a 1-1 overtime tie with No. 7/7 New Hampshire.  Junior goaltender Christina Kessler made 12 saves and senior forward Sarah Wilson scored her seventh goal of the season on the power play to help the Crimson earn the non-league point.

Yale won its only game of the week, a 4-1 handling of Brown last Thursday.  The Bulldogs outshot the Bears by a 2-to-1 margin.  Sophomore forward Bray Ketchum netted two goals for the winners.  Senior goaltender Nicole Stock made 28 saves for Brown, while sophomore goalie Jackee Snikeris finished with 15 saves.

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