Syracuse University
#8 New Hampshire
Orange Host Two Top 10 Opponents
10/7/2010 2:08:22 PM | Ice Hockey
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University women's ice hockey team will face two tough challenges this weekend when it welcomes No. 8 New Hampshire to Tennity Ice Pavilion on Friday, October 8 and No. 9 Boston College the following day at 4 p.m. The New Hampshire matchup will be streamed live on Orange All Access (OAA), SU's multimedia package. Subscriptions are $5.95 for a game-day pass, $9.95 per month or $79.95 per year.
Scouting New Hampshire
Friday's matchup will mark the second meeting between Syracuse and New Hampshire. The Wildcats were ranked third in the nation last year when the Orange made the trip to Durham, N.H. A second period goal by Stefanie Marty gave SU a 1-0 advantage, but UNH fired back with two goals in the third period to produce the final score of 2-1.
New Hampshire opened the season with a 2-1 win against Connecticut last weekend. Sophomore Kristina Lavoie, the Wildcats' returning point leader from last year, scored one goal in the win. Junior Sarah Cuthbert recorded the other goal for UNH. New Hampshire is currently ranked eighth in the USCHO.com poll and ninth in the USA Today/USA Hockey rankings.
Scouting Boston College
Saturday's game will be the second time Syracuse and Boston College have met on the ice. In the first meeting on October 9, 2009, the two teams played to a 3-3 overtime draw in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The Eagles return junior forward Alison Szlosek, who scored one goal in last year's matchup. This season BC will have the tough task of replacing Allie Thunstrom, the Eagles leading scorer from last season. She tallied 22 goals, which were 13 more than the next player on the list. Forward Kelli Stack and goaltender Molly Schaus were members of Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics that won the silver medal.
Boston College is currently ranked ninth in the USCHO.com poll and 10th in the USA Today/USA Hockey rankings. The Eagles finished the 2009-10 season with an overall record of 8-17-10 and went 7-10-4 in Hockey East action. BC will open its season on Friday, October 8 at Colgate before making the short trip down the road to Syracuse.
A Look at the Orange
Marty, a senior captain, helped the Orange open the season with a 4-4 overtime tie with Northeastern last weekend. She recorded two goals and the game-tying assist against the Huskies. Fellow senior captain Julie Rising set a program record for most assists in a game with four as she had a hand in each of SU's goals. The reigning College Hockey America (CHA) Rookie of the Year, Isabel Menard, and junior Megan Skelly added the other two goals for Syracuse.
Seven freshmen played in their first collegiate matchup for the Orange, including Jenesica Drinkwater, who made 15 saves in her first career start. Freshman Christina LaCombe recorded her first career point on an assist to Skelly.
Looking Forward
The Orange will continue its home streak next weekend when it hosts Providence on Friday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. and Connecticut the following day at 4 p.m. at Tennity Ice Pavilion.
