Weekend Preview: Teams Look to Continue Streaks

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Heading into this weekend’s play four out of the top 10 current winning streaks in women’s Division I hockey belong to ECAC Hockey teams.  Three of those teams, Clarkson, Princeton, and St. Lawrence will be in action this weekend looking to extend their streaks.

No. 10/10 Harvard/Dartmouth at Princeton/Quinnipiac:  Travel partners Harvard and Dartmouth take to the road in conference action this weekend visiting Princeton and Quinnipiac.  The Crimson hold the all-time series lead against Quinnipiac with a record of 9-1-0. The Series between the Bobcats and Crimson began in the 2005-06 season when Harvard collected 5-3 and 3-0 wins.  The Bobcats have played 12 games already this season and enter the game against Harvard with a 7-4-1 overall record and a 2-3-0 mark in League play.  The Tigers enter the weekend in third place in ECAC Hockey standings with a 3-2-0 conference record and 3-4-0 overall mark.  Saturday's game will be the 11th time that Quinnipiac and Dartmouth have faced each other, with the Big Green leading the series 6-2-2.  Bobcats’ freshman forward Kelly Babstock remains atop the leader-board nationally, as she is first in the nation with 21 total points.  For Dartmouth, senior forward Amanda Trunzo is tied for the team lead in points with five and is only three away from 100 career points.  Princeton's three wins have the Tigers currently tied for second in the ECAC Hockey standings, although the 12 league teams range from two to five league games played at this early point in the season.

At St. Lawrence, No. 6/6 Boston College:  Unbeaten Boston College (7-0-3) makes it way to the North Country to battle St. Lawrence at Appleton Arena in a two-game set this weekend.  Currently the all-time series is split 9-9-2 with the Saints blanking the Eagles, 4-0 last January. Freshman forward Rylee Smith has been productive on offense netting six goals and adding two assist in the Saints’ nine games.  Senior forward Kelli Stack leads the Eagles in scoring averaging 1.90 points per game in 10 outings (11G-8A-19PTS).

At Clarkson, Syracuse:  The Golden Knights and the Orange finish a home-and-home series Friday afternoon at Cheel Arena.  Riding a three-game winning streak Clarkson will face a familiar foe with Syracuse, which is guided by former St. Lawrence head coach Paul Flanagan.  The Orange owns a 4-5-1 overall record on the season.  Six of the Golden Knights’ last seven games have been decided by one goal or less, with Clarkson going 3-2-1 in those contests.  Clarkson edged Syracuse, 3-2 last weekend as three different Golden Knights scored goals and senior goaltender Lauren Dahm was solid between the pipes in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. 

At Colgate, Niagara:  The Raiders continue their seven-game homestand this weekend at Starr Rink when they host Niagara in a two-game set in non-conference action.  Colgate has 12 players with at least one point this season.  Sophomore Brittany Phillips leads the team with six points off two goals and four assists.  Colgate leads the all-time series with the Purple Eagles 9-6-1.  The weekend road trip to Hamilton will mark the first of eight straight road games for Niagara.  Niagara is coming off an upset 4-3 overtime win over No. 3/4 Mercyhurst.

Rensselaer/Union at Yale/Brown:  Yale and Brown will play host to Rensselaer and Brown this weekend.  The Bulldogs have tagged these two home games as "White Out for Mandi,” a fundraiser for their teammate Mandi Schwartz as she battles cancer.  The Engineers have already suffered three one-goal losses this year, but are coming off a 2-0 shutout of Quinnipiac in which goalie Sonja van der Bliek made 25 saves.  She has a .879 save percentage for the season.  Forward Jill Vandegrift leads the Engineers in scoring (2G-5A-7PTS).  The Bears will play games number two and three of a six-game homestand this weekend against conference foes Union and Rensselaer at Meehan Auditorium.  Bears’ senior forward  Erica Kromm is riding a three-game scoring streak. Union is led by a junior forward trifecta as each player has four points this season.  Kelly Alyea and Lauren Hoffman each have two goals and two assists while Lauren Cromartie has tallied a goal and three assists to lead the Dutchwomen.

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