Ice Hockey Picked As Preseason Favorite
9/21/2015 5:01:00 PM | Ice Hockey
WINTHROP, Mass.- The Syracuse women's ice hockey team was voted as the favorites to win the 2015-16 College Hockey America (CHA) regular season championship, the league office announced Monday afternoon.
The Orange received three of the six first-place votes, earning 23 total points in the poll, edging out Meryhurst University by two points for the top spot. Two-time defending CHA Tournament champion RIT was selected to finish third as Penn State, Lindenwood and Robert Morris rounded out the rest of the poll.
Â
Â
"I don't put a lot of stock into polls, but it's flattering for our program that other teams are looking at us in that light," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "With the quality of the teams in our conference, the league is wide open. Our team now has a responsibility to prove that the coaches are right."
Last season, Syracuse finished with an overall record of 11-15-10, making it all the way to the CHA Conference Championship before losing to RIT in double overtime by a final score of 2-1. The Orange return majority of its team from last season, including its top five scorers.
The Orange had six players picked to all-conference team last year, which was the most of any program in the league. Syracuse returns five of those players in 2015-16.
Sophomore forward Stephanie Grossi is coming off a season where she was tabbed CHA Rookie of the Year, leading Syracuse with 30 total points. Senior Melissa Piacentini is also back in the Orange lineup after scoring a team-high 18 goals while dishing out 11 assists. Alysha Burriss, Jessica Sibley and Nicole Renault also return after combining for 25 goals a season ago.
Senior goaltender Jenn Gilligan is back in net, representing the Orange on the CHA Second Team last season, finishing the year with a .901 save percentage and 750 saves.
"It feels good to be back. I'm impressed with how the team came back in shape and ready to go," Flanagan said. "We are hoping it will be a banner year for us. With that said, it is important for us to take care of the physical aspect because it's a long season." Â
The Orange will open the 2015-16 season with an exhibition game against Queens on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. The first official game of the season is on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Tennity Ice Pavilion against Clarkson.Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse women's ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseIce), Instagram (@CusePics & @CuseIce) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
The Orange received three of the six first-place votes, earning 23 total points in the poll, edging out Meryhurst University by two points for the top spot. Two-time defending CHA Tournament champion RIT was selected to finish third as Penn State, Lindenwood and Robert Morris rounded out the rest of the poll.
Â
| Team (First-Place Votes) | Points |
| 1. Syracuse (3) | 23 |
| 2. Mercyhurst (2) | 21 |
| 3. RIT (1) | 16 |
| 4. Penn State | 12 |
| T-5. Lindenwood | 9 |
| T-5. Robert Morris | 9 |
"I don't put a lot of stock into polls, but it's flattering for our program that other teams are looking at us in that light," head coach Paul Flanagan said. "With the quality of the teams in our conference, the league is wide open. Our team now has a responsibility to prove that the coaches are right."
Last season, Syracuse finished with an overall record of 11-15-10, making it all the way to the CHA Conference Championship before losing to RIT in double overtime by a final score of 2-1. The Orange return majority of its team from last season, including its top five scorers.
The Orange had six players picked to all-conference team last year, which was the most of any program in the league. Syracuse returns five of those players in 2015-16.
Sophomore forward Stephanie Grossi is coming off a season where she was tabbed CHA Rookie of the Year, leading Syracuse with 30 total points. Senior Melissa Piacentini is also back in the Orange lineup after scoring a team-high 18 goals while dishing out 11 assists. Alysha Burriss, Jessica Sibley and Nicole Renault also return after combining for 25 goals a season ago.
Senior goaltender Jenn Gilligan is back in net, representing the Orange on the CHA Second Team last season, finishing the year with a .901 save percentage and 750 saves.
"It feels good to be back. I'm impressed with how the team came back in shape and ready to go," Flanagan said. "We are hoping it will be a banner year for us. With that said, it is important for us to take care of the physical aspect because it's a long season." Â
The Orange will open the 2015-16 season with an exhibition game against Queens on Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. The first official game of the season is on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Tennity Ice Pavilion against Clarkson.Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse women's ice hockey, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseIce), Instagram (@CusePics & @CuseIce) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Ice Hockey
G
/ Ice Hockey
F
/ Ice Hockey
F
/ Ice Hockey
D
/ Ice Hockey
F
/ Ice HockeySyracuse Ice Hockey
Saturday, October 25
Highlights | Ice Hockey at RIT
Friday, October 24
Highlights | Syracuse vs. Minnesota Dultuh
Saturday, September 27
Syracuse Women's Ice Hockey
Saturday, February 22
