Season Preview: Colgate in Final Preparations for 2011-12 Season

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Colgate women's hockey team is in its final two weeks of preparation for the 2011-12 season that will begin on Oct. 7 with a road contest against New Hampshire.

The Raiders, who were picked to finish ninth in the ECAC Hockey Preseason Poll, will also play a pair of exhibition games against the Toronto Jr. Aeros on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. and Queens University on Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. Both games will be played at home in Starr Rink. 

This season the team returns 14 letterwinners from last season, including seven players that played in all 33 games in 2010. After narrowly missing out on the ECAC playoffs last season, the team will look to improve on its league play and clinch one of the eight playoff spots this season. 

FORWARDS
The team returns its top-two point scorers from last season with juniors Brittany Phillips and Jenna Klynstra. Phillips finished the season with a team high 33 points from 15 goals, seven of which were from power plays, and 18 assists while Klynstra was second with 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points. Colgate also returns senior Amanda Kirwan and sophomore Rachel Walsh who were fourth and fifth on the team with 18 and 14 points respectively. As a team, the Raiders completed the season with a total of 170 points, scoring 63 goals and 107 assists. 

The forward group will add five rookies to its lineup this season with Taylor Craig, Miriam Drubel, Lauren Fitzgerald, Melissa Kueber and Casey Dockus. 

DEFENSEMEN
The blue line returns an experienced group of players with seniors Amanda Kirwan and Kristi-Lyn Pollock, as well as junior Jessica Hootz. Kirwan and Hootz played in all 33 games last season, while Pollock saw action in 28. Kirwan completed the season with 18 points from three goals and 15 assists and Hootz accumulated nine points from three goals and six assists. Alongside them are sophomores Shannon Doyle and Megan Wickens who played in 32 and 33 games respectively and were a contributing force to the team's defense.

New to the defense will be freshman Katie Case who was a member of the 2009 USA Under 18 team and a PWHL Playoff bronze medalist. 

GOALTENDERS
Leading the way between the pipes is senior Kimberly Sass who played in 24 games and had a total of 607 saves for a .899 save percentage. The senior finished the season with five shut outs, three of which were in a row at home, both of which are new school records, and is ranked seventh in program history in most saves in a season, fourth in career saves with 1626 and fifth in career wins with 24.

Following in her footsteps will be freshmen Brittney Brooks and Susan Allen.

NEWCOMERS
The Raiders add eight new student-athletes to the 2011-12 roster, which will account for just over a third of the team. The class of 2015 includes two goaltenders, five forwards and a defenseman. Seven of the players come from five different states, including Michigan, Massachusetts, New York, Nevada and New Hampshire, and one is from Alberta, Canada.

"I am extremely excited about this year's recruiting class,” stated head coach Scott Wiley. “We have added skill and depth up front with the addition of Taylor, Casey, Miriam, Lauren and Melissa. Katie will give us another solid puck moving defense and Susan and Brittney will give us balance in goal. I look forward to working with this talented group and welcoming them to the Colgate family. This group will be a great compliment to our returning players and I look forward to this season."

SCHEDULE
The 2011-12 schedule includes three two-game sets, with Lindenwood, Niagara and Vermont, as well as a pair of new opponents in Northeastern and Lindenwood.

"We have put together another strong schedule this year,” stated Wiley. “Our non-league games will be challenging and will showcase teams from Hockey East and the CHA. We have picked up a few new teams and look forward to playing them as well. The ECAC Hockey league will again be one of the strongest, most balanced leagues in women's hockey. Each game will be ultra competitive and I expect great parity once again. We will look to get off to a strong start this year and carry the momentum into league play.”

The season will consist of 17 home games and 16 road matchups.