Weekend Preview: League Play Launched
ALBANY, NY -- Halloween weekend provides the setting for opening
league-play in ECAC Hockey. Three out of the four nationally ranked
league teams will be in action with No. 3/3 Harvard and No. 5/6
Dartmouth traveling to Quinnipiac and Princeton, while No. 10/10
Clarkson looking to make it three in a row as it travels to Niagara
for a two-game series.
Brown/Yale at Rensselaer/Union: Brown and
Yale make its yearly trek to the Capital District to take on
Rensselaer and Union in ECAC Hockey play. The Bears have a winning
record over the past five seasons in ECAC Hockey openers, going 3-2
over that span. That streak includes an opening win over Union last
season. In the Brown-Rensselaer series, which is entering only its
third season, neither team has triumphed on the road. The Bears
have won both of their games at home against RPI, while earning a
tie and a loss when traveling to play in Troy. Union has not beaten
Yale since the series started in 2001, but the Dutchwomen came
close twice last season. They had a tie in one and a lead in
another third period in the two contests last season, only to see
the Bulldogs rally to spoil an upset bid. Rensselaer also
threatened Yale last season, but in a different way. The Engineers
battled the Bulldogs for the final ECAC Hockey playoff spot right
up until the final game of the season, when Yale beat Rensselaer
3-2 at Ingalls Rink on a third-period game-winner. Union's senior
netminder Lundy Day has been a workhorse between the pipes,
averaging over 40 saves per game in the Dutchwomen's first eight
contests. Engineers' junior forward Whitney Naslund (2-5-7) is the
team's leading scorer, while sophomore goalie Sonja van der Bliek
(.902 save percentage, 2.43 GAA) has seen the majority of minutes
in goal.
No. 5/6 Dartmouth/No. 3/3 Harvard at
Princeton/Quinnipiac: No. 5/6 Dartmouth begins its
32nd varsity season this weekend as the Big Green hit the road for
two ECAC Hockey games at Princeton and Quinnipiac. Dartmouth
returns 17 letterwinners from a year ago after losing just three to
graduation. The Big Green has also added seven newcomers to the
mix. Under head coach Mark Hudak, the Big Green has had great
success in season openers as Dartmouth has posted a 4-1 record in
kickoffs. For the first time in five years, No. 3/3 Harvard begins
its season on the road with two ECAC Hockey contests, a Friday
night matchup at Quinnipiac followed by an afternoon contest at
Princeton. The defending ECAC Hockey champion looks to remain
undefeated all-time versus the Bobcats, as they hold a 6-0-0 lead,
including three shutouts. The Crimson, who have a streak of 34
consecutive games with at least one goal, owns a 33-22-6 all-time
mark versus the Tigers. Princeton is 1-1 on the young season,
splitting a two-game set with Connecticut. Defenseman Sasha Sherry
leads the team in scoring registering one goal and one assist.
Princeton is 2 of 12 on the power play and has killed 11 of 13
penalties. Forward Janine Duffy paces the Bobcats' offense with six
points (three goals, three assists), while forward Elsye Cole
(three goals, two assists) and forward Kallie Flor (four assists)
are second and third, respectively. Cole is tied for 21st in the
nation with two power play goals.
At Colgate, Mercyhurst: Prior to beginning
league-play, the Raiders will play a non-league two-game series
against Mercyhurst. Last season Colgate compiled a 7-6-4 home
record. Thus far the Raiders own a 3-0 mark at Starr Rink. Colgate
returns 18 letterwinners from last year's team and welcomes five
newcomers. Colgate will look to find the same success that Clarkson
had in sweeping the Lakers last weekend by controlling the pace and
outshooting the previously ranked team.
No. 10/10 Clarkson at Niagara: Coming off a
six game stretch against four of the nation's elite teams, the
Golden Knights are ranked in the top ten for the first time this
season. Clarkson relies on getting solid efforts in goal from its
sophomore tandem of Lauren Dahm and Eve Grandmont-Berube. Clarkson
leads Niagara in their all-time series, holding a 6-3-1 mark over
the Purple Eagles. Last season, the Green and Gold skated to a 2-0
win and a 2-2 tie against Niagara at Cheel Arena. In their last
visit to Dwyer Arena, the Golden Knights lost a weekend series,
falling 4-1, and 1-0 on December 9-10, 2005.
At Cornell, Robert Morris: The Big Red, 2-0
on the young season, will play their last non-league game prior to
their start of ECAC Hockey conference play. Cornell is off to an
explosive start on the offensive end of the ice with sophomore
forward Rebecca Johnston leading the way with two goals and six
assists. Cornell has scored 12 goals in its first two games, while
only surrendering two.
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