Weekend Preview: Season Begins in Earnest
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The ECAC Hockey season continues to kick into gear this weekend, with virtually a full slate of games. Non-league showdowns highlight the weekend's activity with five teams opening their seasons at home. The featured match-up of the weekend is between two ranked teams, No. 6/6 St. Lawrence and No. 4/5 New Hampshire squaring-off Sunday in a matinee affair.
Click here to access complete release as PDF
No. 6/6 St. Lawrence/Clarkson at No. 4/5 New Hampshire/Boston University: No. 6/6-ranked St. Lawrence will be looking to expand on its strong start to the season with a match-up against the No. 4/5 team in the nation, in New Hampshire. The Saints, who beat McGill in an exhibition game, have gained points in its last two games, beating Providence on the road and garnering a tie against No. 10-ranked Connecticut on their home ice. In his first season as the Saints' head coach, Chris Wells looks to build on the team's early success. St. Lawrence then heads to Boston University Sunday to face the Terriers in another ECAC Hockey/Hockey East match-up. In its sixth season as an NCAA program,
Clarkson, led by its two new head coaches, Shannon and Matt Desrosiers, will face No. 4/5 New Hampshire and Boston University this weekend as well. The Golden Knights are still looking for their first win of the season, after winning an exhibition game, losing to No. 7/8-ranked Boston College and then garnering a tie with the Eagles.
Niagara at Colgate: Niagara heads to Colgate for a two game set this weekend, with Colgate looking to gain momentum in the month of October. After an exhibition win over Stoney Creek and a victory over Syracuse, the Raiders traveled to Providence and No. 10-ranked Connecticut where they came up short in a couple of tough games. Colgate holds a slight edge in the all-time series with Niagara, 6-5-1. The Raiders are unbeaten in the last three meetings verus Niagara, including a 1-1 tie on October. 7, 2006.
Syracuse at Quinnipiac: Quinnipiac hosts Syracuse in a pair of games at TD Banknorth Center. Quinnipiac has dropped its first four contests and looks to capture its first win for new head coach Rick Seeley. Seeley manned the helm building Clarkson's program before undertaking the challenge in Hamden. Bobcats' junior forward Janine Duffy leads the team in goals (3) this season. Duffy scored twice in the second game of the stint against St. Cloud State Saturday (10/4). Through four games played Duffy has more than half of her total goal output from last season.
Wayne St. at Union: Wayne St. will travel to the Capital Region this weekend to take on Union. Union will look to gain its first win this season, after four setbacks to start the year. The Dutchwomen have been successful on the power play, scoring more than half of their goals while skating with a one-man advantage. Senior goaltender Lundy Day, who has faced 142 shots through the first four games will look to continue her strong play this weekend.
Rensselaer at No. 9/9 Mercyhurst: Rensselaer will travel to Pennsylvania to take on No. 9/9-ranked Mercyhurst College in a two-game set. Rensselaer is currently 1-2, after beating Boston University, which was sandwiched between a pair of losses, to Northeastern and No. 7/8-ranked Boston College.
Stoney Creek/Durham at Cornell: Cornell welcomes in a pair of exhibition opponents this weekend, taking on Stoney Creek and Durham. Head coach Doug Derraugh returns for his fourth season behind the bench to guide the Big Red's 17 letterwinners and nine newcomers.
Bluewater at Princeton: The Tigers also begin action this weekend, in the exhibition variety as they host Bluewater Friday at 7 p.m. Princeton is led by preseason all-league selection, sophomore defenseman Sasha Sherry. Princeton was selected to finish sixth in the preseason ECAC Women's Hockey Coaches poll.
