Weekend Preview: Five Teams Open Regular Season

ALBANY, N.Y. - Five teams ECAC Hockey women’s programs officially begin their 2011-12 campaigns this weekend. Nationally-ranked Quinnipiac will be tested right out of the gate, as it faces No. 9 Mercyhurst for a two-game road set. Clarkson plays a pair of road games, first visiting Vermont and then getting a glimpse of its north country rival St. Lawrence for the first time this season. Union plays in the East/West Showcase against Minnesota and St. Cloud State in Minnesota. Rensselaer plays the first of six straight games away from Houston Field House, as it battles Connecticut in two non-league contests.

Clarkson at Vermont
*The Golden Knights, who finished sixth in the league 2010-11 standings with a 10-8-4 mark, went 7-3-3 to close out the regular-season.
*Sixteen letterwinners return, led by six seniors who have enjoyed great success at Clarkson. The Class of 2012 has compiled 53 wins, made three postseason appearances, and has skated in an ECAC Hockey Championship game and the NCAA playoffs through their first three years in Potsdam.
*The Catamounts posted an overall record of 7-17-9 in 2010-11. They have 11 letterwinners returing and welcome 10 newcomers to their roster.

No. 9 Quinnipiac at No. 8 Mercyhurst
*Quinnipiac is coming off of its most successful season in program history.
*The Bobcats won a program-record 22 games in 2010-11 and advanced to the ECAC Hockey Semifinals for the first time in program history.
*The Bobcats return all nine of its top scorers from last season, including 2011 ECAC Hockey Player and Rookie of the Year Kelly Babstock and All-ECAC Hockey selection Victoria Vigilanti. Both players were also selected to the 2011-12 All-ECAC Hockey Preseason Team.
*Mercyhurst was second in the nation in scoring offense last season netting 177 goals in 35 contests (5.06 G/GM), while Quinnipiac ranked third in scoring defense only surrendering 63 in 37 games (1.70 G/GM).

Union at No. 4 Minnesota/St. Cloud State
*Friday’s contest at Minnesota marks the first-ever meeting between the Dutchwomen and the Gophers, who made the NCAA Tournament last season.
*The leading returning scorer for the Dutchwomen is Lauren Hoffman who tallied 11 points on four goals and seven assists last season.
*Two of Union’s players hail from Minnesota in sophomore forward Elsa Bruestle and senior goalie Kate Gallagher.
*St. Cloud State returns 70 of its 76 team points scored in 2010-11.

Rensselaer at Connecticut
*Offensively Rensselaer is led by senior center and captain Alisa Harrison. An assistant captain in 2010-11, she tallied eight goals with 11 assists for 19 points, and was a finalist for the league's Best Defensive Forward Award.
*Junior winger Taylor Horton is also back for the Engineers. An assistant captain, she is the squad's top returning scorer, having netted 12 goals with 11 assists for 23 points.
*UConn returns six of its tops seven scorers from a year ago. Sophomore Taylor Gross led the squad with 23 points on a team-best 12 goals and 11 assists as a rookie.

Clarkson at St. Lawrence
*Leading an offense that returns its top-8 scorers from last season will be junior All-Conference honoree Kelly Sabatine, who led the Saints in scoring with 34 points (15g, 19a) in 2010-11.
*St. Lawrence has the advantage of opening the 2011-12 campaign with seven of its first eight games on its home ice.
*Saturday’s contest will follow an alumnae game that will feature graduates from St. Lawrence taking on former Golden Knights.
*Clarkson has gone 3-1-1 against St. Lawrence in its last six meetings to cut the series deficit against the North Country rival to 7-13-3.

(click here to view complete release)