Team Notes: Clarkson Hosts Hockey East Powers Boston U. and New Hampshire

Riding a four-game unbeaten streak, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team will face a challenging task this weekend when it hosts a pair of traditional Hockey East powers at Cheel Arena. Guided by fourth-year co-head coaches Matt and Shannon Desrosiers, and assistant coach Matt Kelly, the Golden Knights battle fifth-ranked Boston University in a Friday afternoon game, beginning at 3:00 p.m., and then take on the University of New Hampshire at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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Clarkson, which has gone 3-0-1 since October 8, owns a 3-1-2 overall record. Last weekend the Green and Gold swept the University of Syracuse in a home-and-home series. The Knights won 3-2 in Central NY on Friday and then opened a five-game home stand at Cheel with a 4-2 victory over the Orange on Saturday. Clarkson, led by senior captain Katelyn Ptolemy (Dinsmore, SASK) and senior assistant captain Danielle Boudreau (Whitby, ONT), opens ECAC Hockey play next weekend, hosting league powers Dartmouth and Harvard to close out the month of October.

Senior Gabrielle Kosziwka (Limehouse, ONT) powered the offense against Syracuse with three goals in the sweep. The Knights’ leading scorer, sophomore Jamie Lee Rattray (Kanata, ONT) tallied two goals and one assist against the Orange. Rattray has recorded 12 points, including a team-high nine assists, through the first six games. Classmate Carly Mercer (Exeter, ONT) follows with seven points (3-4).

Sophomore Erica Howe (Ottawa, ONT) backstopped Clarkson to the pair of tight wins over Syracuse to earn ECAC Goaltender of the Week accolades. She made a season-high 34 saves in Friday's victory at Syracuse, and followed with 20 more in Saturday's triumph.

Winners of three straight, Boston University opens a demanding five-game road trip with this weekend’s games in the North Country. The Terriers, who own a 4-1 record, play at St. Lawrence on Saturday before a two-game series at defending national champion Wisconsin in a rematch of last year’s NCAA title game. BU closes out the road stretch at rival Boston College on November 2 in the first game of a series against the 2011 NCAA semifinalist. The Terries defeated Union 6-2 last Saturday.

After a strong start to the 2011-12 campaign, UNH has gone winless (0-2-1) in its last three games. The Wildcats played a solid game against 4th/5th-ranked Boston College on Friday, gaining a 1-1 tie in Durham, NH. On Saturday, UNH suffered a 5-0 loss at BC. The Wildcats also lost at home to Syracuse (2-1) on October 8.